Israel’s International Aid in Central America: Insights From The Tech Business Turn in The 21st Century

ABSTRACT: The present article addresses the transformation of Israel’s MASHAV program in 21st-century Central America, emphasizing the significant role of tech firms in Israeli cooperation initiatives. The integration of the private sector has shifted the balance between commercial and political interests, introducing new challenges and structural constraints on Israel’s political objectives in the region while enhancing its soft power. Examined here are the complex relationships between the tech sector’s innovation-driven business logic and Israel’s international political dynamics with Central America, yielding insights on the changing political context of the region and the landscape of Israel’s international cooperation with the Global South.