Guatemala will recognize Jerusalem's City of David and the heritage uncovered at the archaeological site as part of its national inheritance and foundational ideals during a ceremony on Friday morning, the City of David Foundation announced. The Central American country will become the third nation to install a commemorative plaque at the City of David National Park, following similar initiatives by the United States and Argentina.
The plaque, signed by Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, will be unveiled on his behalf by Guatemala's Ambassador to Israel, Ava Atzum Arévalo Triboullier de Moscoso. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee are scheduled to attend the ceremony, alongside Guatemalan dignitaries and members of the country's Congress.
A Declaration of Shared Heritage
Inscribed in English and Spanish, the plaque describes the City of David as the site where Jerusalem's earliest communities were established and links its history to the longstanding relationship between Guatemala and Israel. The inscription says, "The City of David, site of Biblical Jerusalem, preserves the origins of a millennia-old history," and adds, "From this place, where Jerusalem's earliest communities were formed, the historic bond between Guatemala and Israel is evoked, forged upon respect, memory, and friendship between peoples." It concludes, "Guatemala honors the cultural heritage and the continuity of a civilization through time."
Ahead of the ceremony, Arévalo de Moscoso said, "There are few places in the world where history can be experienced as directly as in the City of David." She said, "What is revealed here is not the history of a single nation; it is the earliest chapter of a city whose history has profoundly influenced the spiritual, historical, and cultural heritage of much of humanity, including Guatemala." She added, "To honor the origins of Jerusalem is also to preserve an essential part of humanity's historical heritage," and said, "Guatemala, a nation that understands the value of memory, recognizes the profound significance that this history holds for humanity and the special place it occupies in the memory of our people."
Archaeological Evidence and Biblical Connection
David Be'eri, an Israel Prize laureate and chairman of the City of David Foundation, said, "Here in the City of David, the prophet Isaiah described a Jerusalem that would one day be a house of prayer for all nations." He said, "Today, Guatemala has come to the place where Jerusalem began and recognized its own place in Jerusalem's story, and how this city has shaped the Guatemalan nation." He added, "Every day in the City of David, we continue unearthing a history and a heritage rich with significance for Israel and the Jewish people, and resonant with meaning for billions around the world."
The US formally recognized the City of David's connection to American Judeo-Christian heritage through a commemorative plaque, while Argentina presented its plaque during President Javier Milei's visit to Jerusalem about 1 year ago. Guatemala has maintained close relations with Israel for decades and relocated its embassy to Jerusalem eight years ago. Arévalo studied sociology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem before beginning his diplomatic and political career.
Why This Matters:
Guatemala's recognition of the City of David as part of its national heritage represents a diplomatic departure from the international consensus that treats Jerusalem's ancient Jewish roots as contested. While much of the world refuses to acknowledge the archaeological evidence linking the Jewish people to Jerusalem, Guatemala joins a small group of nations willing to affirm what excavations have repeatedly confirmed: this city's origins are inseparable from Jewish history. The move also highlights a broader realignment in which Latin American countries with strong Christian traditions are willing to break with European diplomatic orthodoxy on Israel. It's a reminder that Jerusalem's significance extends far beyond the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that some nations still view historical truth as worth defending, even when it complicates fashionable political narratives.",
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