Latin America is swinging from criticism of Israel to strong support, driven by religion and US trade pressure — bad news for Palestinian solidarity in the region and good news for Israel's diplomacy.

• Evangelical churches are growing fast in Brazil while Catholicism shrinks, and they are on track to become the largest group there in the next decade.
• The growth is not accidental: the CIA pushed Pentecostal churches into the region in the 1970s to blunt left-wing Catholic movements, and Israeli-linked groups now train pastors to preach pro-Israel politics.
• Governments are flipping one after another — Chile reversed its embassy shutdown and arms embargo, Bolivia restored ties after socialism lost, Argentina went all-in, Paraguay moved its embassy to Jerusalem.
• The new pro-Israel leaders are also the most pro-Washington ones, trading alignment for better access to US markets and lower tariffs.
• Brazil is the clearest case: Trump hit Lula with a trade war, then backed Flavio Bolsonaro, who is campaigning on repairing the US relationship.

Outlook: Israel has labeled 2026 its "year of Latin America," so expect more diplomatic wins there if the region's right-wing election streak holds.