‘A great friend to the Jewish state’ – Netanyahu meets Argentinian President Milei in Jerusalem

Argentinian President Javier Milei on Wednesday continued his Israeli visit, meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog and visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem.

“Your stalwart support for Israel in so many forms is deeply, deeply appreciated. Welcome to Jerusalem. Welcome, friend,” Netanyahu told Milei, who upon his arrival in Israel the day before announced he would move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem.

“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.”

Netanyahu thanked Milei for declaring Hamas a terrorist organization and for his unwavering support of Israel's right to defend itself.

The two staunchly pro-free market leaders also discussed the launch of joint business delegations in various areas. “We share the desire for prosperity, security and peace,” Netanyahu said.

“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’s first stop upon arrival was the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where he was seen moved to tears and hugging his confidante and newly-appointed ambassador to Israel, Rabbi Axel Wahnish.

“First of all, it is indeed an honor and great pleasure for me to be in Israel. As I have said repeatedly, I have been committed since day one to making sure that my first diplomatic visit as president would be to the State of Israel,” Milei said during his visit with Herzog.

“Here I am, keeping my promise now, and let me also say that it fills me with joy to have had a spiritual visit as my first activity - which was a visit to the Kotel (Western Wall).”

Even when compared to recent visits by representatives of allied nations during the war, the Argentinian leader's visit has been characterized by unusual affection and warmth toward the Jewish nation.

Herzog presented Milei with a Hebrew Bible, saying, “You have shown your love and affection, both for the Jewish people and the nation-state of the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and we thank you wholeheartedly for this.”

“The people of Israel have immense warmth and friendship with Argentina, and your visit here exemplifies the unique relationship that we have with Argentina, and the fact that we have so many Israelis whose family originated from Argentina,” Herzog added.

Earlier in the day, Milei was accompanied on a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center by its Argentina-born chairman, Dani Dayan.

“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,” Milei wrote in the guestbook.

Argentina’s Jewish community is one of the largest in the world, numbering some 200,000 Jews.

Milei’s unabashed pro-Israel support and friendship for the Jewish people and Israel is a sharp departure from past Argentinian government leaders, who have often sought cooperation with the Arab world and Palestinian causes, and are unique within South America.

Milei, a firebrand economist, has expressed a deep interest in Judaism in recent years and, following his election, visited the New York tomb of famous Rabbi Schneerson, believed to have been the Messiah by some of his followers.

The Argentinian president has attracted large controversy for his radical libertarian views, including his promise to severely cut down the number of ministries and his far-reaching plans to privatize and deregulate Argentina’s economy.