Argentine President Javier Milei plans to visit Israel on March 23 to fortify bilateral ties. This visit follows an invitation to address the Knesset and comes after significant support for Israel during his presidency amidst economic challenges in Argentina. Milei’s focus includes strong condemnation of Hamas and efforts related to historical cases of terrorism involving Iran.
Argentine President Javier Milei is set to visit Israel on March 23, marking his second trip to the nation with the goal of enhancing bilateral relations and collaboration. This visit follows an invitation from Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana for Milei to address Israel’s parliament, and he is anticipated to have talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well.
Since his election, Milei has become a significant advocate for Israel, fundamentally altering Argentina’s long-standing neutrality. His administration has emphasized supportive ties with both Jerusalem and Washington, diverging sharply from Argentina’s previous foreign policy.
Amid an ongoing economic crisis characterized by high inflation and corruption, Milei’s vocal pro-Israel stance has been a central theme of his presidency following his November 2023 election win. In his initial international journey in February 2024, he demonstrated solidarity with Israel and pledged to relocate Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem.
During his first visit, Milei toured Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel, which endured attacks from Hamas that resulted in numerous kidnappings and fatalities among its residents. He voiced unwavering support for Israel, emphasizing his commitment against Hamas violence.
Milei’s administration has designated Hamas a terrorist organization and has taken a firm stance against Iranian terrorism, specifically vowing to prosecute individuals linked to the deadly 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires. A recent report confirmed that Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman was murdered due to his investigations into this very attack.
In a show of solidarity, Milei declared two days of national mourning for the Bibas children, young victims of the violence perpetrated by Hamas. The Bibas family represents the tragedy of the 251 hostages taken during the brutal attacks, with Kfir, one of the youngest hostages, being the first child killed.
Overall, President Milei’s upcoming visit to Israel underscores the strengthening of Argentine-Israeli relations, reflecting his commitment to supporting Israel amidst ongoing conflict. His government’s policies clearly mark a departure from previous Argentine foreign policy, emphasizing strong alignment with the U.S. and Israel. The ongoing mourning for victims of terrorism highlights the human cost of these geopolitical shifts.
Original Source: www.algemeiner.com
