Argentina's President Milei meets Netanyahu in Jerusalem

In a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Argentinian President Javier Milei at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, Netanyahu thanked the Argentinian president for announcing his intention to declare Hamas a terrorist organization and discussed potential joint business ventures. 

The meeting was initially private and then expanded. Netanyahu thanked Milei for taking this step and for his unwavering support for Israel’s right to defend itself. 

In addition, the two agreed on the launch of joint business delegations in various fields.

The Israeli delegation at the meeting included the Strategic Affairs Minister, the National Security Council Director, the Prime Minister's Office Director General, the Prime Minister's Military Secretary, the National Economic Council Director, the Prime Minister's Foreign Policy Advisor, and the Israeli Ambassador to Argentina.

The Argentinian Foreign Minister, the Argentinian Ambassador to Israel, and the Embassy Head of Mission were part of the Argentinian delegation, most of which was being hosted at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, where many a head of state have previously stayed upon visiting the Jewish State.

Netanyahu thanks Argentinian President

Netanyahu welcomed Milei to Israel, saying, "We are delighted with your decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move your diplomatic post there, and also, of course, an embassy." 

In their discussion regarding the joint business venture, Netanyahu said they both "champion" free markets. He said, "We can do a lot more together. We share the desire for prosperity, security, and peace. We know that the greatest challenge to peace in our area, but also in yours, is Iran. And we appreciate the cooperation that we are doing with you in security and diplomacy." 

Milei announced his plans to move the country’s embassy to Jerusalem upon his arrival to Israel. On Tuesday, Milei met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog after first visiting the Western Wall. This trip is Milei's first state visit abroad since assuming office in December 2023. He is a member of the Libertarian Party in Argentina, which advocates for free markets and a secular state. 

President meets Foreign Minister Israel Katz

Foreign Minister Israel Katz met with the Argentinian president, who was accompanied by Argentinian Foreign Minister Diana Mondino, and thanked him for his support for Israel, and the two agreed to strengthen the cooperation between Israel and Argentina in various fields, the Foreign Ministery said.

The President also reiterated his commitment to move the Argentinian embassy to Jerusalem. 

Milei announced, "We made the decision to move the Argentinian embassy to West Jerusalem. We are interested in promoting the social and economic relations between the countries. You know - you have a friend in Argentina."

Katz added, "The State of Israel is proud to have a true friend like President Milei and an ally like Argentina. I want to thank President Milei once again for standing firmly by our righteous path in these difficult days. God willing, after we destroy Hamas and bring back the hostages, I will visit Argentina at the first opportunity."

Minister-without-portfolio Gideon Sa'ar, whose father immigrated from Argentina, was also present at the meeting. He said, "You have given new hope to Argentina and the Argentines and great joy to Israel because we know you are a true friend of Israel. I congratulate you on the decision to move the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem. Welcome to Israel!".

On the first full day of his first trip to Israel, Milei visited Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, located in Jerusalem. President Milei, accompanied by native Argentinian Chairman of Yad Vashem, Dani Dayan, toured the Holocaust History Museum and the Hall of Names. Following the guided tour, the President participated in a solemn memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance and signed the Yad Vashem guestbook outside the Hall of Remembrance. 

In President Milei's entry in the Yad Vashem guestbook, he wrote: "In this symbolic and transcendent place, where darkness reaches unimaginable extremes of cruelty, it is precisely here that we can see the greatness of a people.  The greatness of going through the pain and rising up again, even stronger than before. We all bear the duty not to remain silent. Never again is now."

At the conclusion of the visit, Yad Vashem Chairman Dayan stated: "This visit was especially pertinent given the fact that there have been Latin-American leaders who have used in the last months rhetoric with clear antisemitic tones, including Holocaust trivialization. For the President of Argentina to visit Israel and Yad Vashem and commit so clearly to uphold the values and lessons of the Holocaust is extremely important. Yad Vashem continues to work closely with the educational authorities in the Argentine Republic in order to increase Holocaust awareness and education for the Argentine people and the Spanish-speaking world."