(TJV NEWS) Evangelical Christians in Colombia have aligned with the country’s Jewish community to express concern over the appointment of Richard Gamboa Ben-Eleazar as the new Director of Religious Affairs. The backlash stems from questions about Gamboa’s credentials and his history of anti-Israel rhetoric. JNS reported.

The Evangelical Confederation of Colombia (Cedecol), which represents over 7,000 churches nationwide, voiced its disapproval in a statement on Wednesday. “There are doubts over his legitimacy within his own faith community, as well as his suitability to represent all faiths in an official capacity,” said Pastor Lyda Elena Arias, head of Cedecol, in an interview with Semana.

At the center of the controversy is Gamboa’s reported rabbinical ordination from the Esoteric Theological Seminary, a Florida-based institution known for issuing religious degrees for a nominal fee—reportedly around $160. Critics argue that the seminary lacks the credibility and recognition typically required for such a post.

Gamboa, who will oversee state relations with religious communities and manage funding allocations, has also drawn criticism from Jewish leaders over past social media posts in which he accused Israel of “Nazism” and called for solidarity with Palestinians. The Confederation of Jewish Communities of Colombia recently stated that Gamboa’s appointment lacks “the necessary guarantees” for ensuring fair representation of Jewish interests.

Tensions between Colombia’s Jewish community—numbering approximately 4,500—and President Gustavo Petro have escalated in recent years, particularly after Petro severed diplomatic ties with Israel over the Gaza conflict in 2023.

Though Colombia’s Jewish population is small, the protest by Cedecol represents a broader challenge for the Petro administration, as evangelical Christians form a large and influential constituency.

Further complicating Gamboa’s credibility are photos he shared of himself alongside a rabbi from Neturei Karta, an anti-Zionist sect known for ties with the Iranian regime.

In a video posted to social media Tuesday, Gamboa denied purchasing any rabbinical certification, presenting a series of diplomas—including one he claimed was a doctorate from the “Hebrew Theological Seminary” in Bolivia, an institution JNS was unable to verify.

Despite the controversy, Gamboa, 47, has thanked President Petro for the appointment and promised to serve as a representative for “all religious communities.” He has identified himself as the son of “secular Sephardic Jews” from Tolima, Colombia, according to El País.