Israel's already excellent relations with Guatemala may soon receive a new boost, thanks to a most peculiar presidential candidate.
Yitzhak Farhi, a 58-year-old businessman from Ra'anana, is running for president of the Latin country, and believes his chances of winning are good.
"My four fellow candidates have all run in the past and they failed," he says.
Two months ago, in an interview with a Guatemalan television station, Farhi was asked about the secret of Israel's impressive growth.
Farhi replied that "ideals and unity" were behind the young nation's successes, and suggested that Guatemala could also benefit from adopting these principles.
His words struck a chord and Farhi received an offer from the ViVa party to run for in the June presidential elections. He is not likely to have a simple path to victory, as he is not among the front-runners in the race.
ViVa, or Vision with Values, currently has three seats in the 158-seat unicameral Guatemalan legislature.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales
(צילום: מארק ישראל סלם)
Farhi was not parachuted into the campaign out of nowhere - he was born in Guatemala and entered politics at an early age.
He was among the founders of Guatemala's National Advancement Party (PAN), which became one of the largest in the country. Among other roles, Farhi managed the party's logistical system and led political campaigns that elected two presidents.
He was also headed the local Jewish community, was a director of the Chevra Kadisha Jewish burial society and a senior commander in the fire department.
Farhi, a married father of four who defines himself as an avowed Zionist, immigrated to Israel 18 years ago. His children all served in combat units of the IDF and he currently serves as CEO of a company that specializes in providing health services. He promises he will return to Israel should his campaign not be successful.