Argentine President Milei Set to Visit Israel to Strengthen Ties, Boost Cooperation

Argentine President Javier Milei is set to arrive in Tel Aviv on Tuesday for a three-day visit to the Jewish state, where he is expected to meet with Israeli officials to deepen bilateral relations and cooperation, after postponing a planned trip in March.

Last week, Milei embarked on a 10-day international tour — the longest since he took office — with planned stops in Italy, France, Spain, and Israel, where he will spend the most time.

In two separate meetings scheduled for Tuesday, the Argentine leader will meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Later that day, Milei will also visit the Western Wall (Kotel), which he described as “the highlight” of the trip.

On Wednesday, he is scheduled to take part in the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the City of David, followed by a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Later that afternoon, Milei will meet with relatives of Argentine-Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas during the terrorist group’s invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, to offer his support and solidarity.

Milei is also set to deliver a formal address at Israel’s parliament, known as the Knesset, where he will be awarded the prestigious $1 million Genesis Prize — dubbed the “Jewish Nobel” by TIME magazine.

According to the Genesis Prize Foundation, Milei will be the first non-Jewish recipient of the award and the first head of state to receive it in recognition of his unwavering support for Israel, commitment to democratic values, and resolute stand against terrorism and antisemitism.

The Argentine leader announced he will donate the prize money to fund a new initiative aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties between Israel and Latin American countries, as well as combating antisemitism across the region.

On Thursday, Milei is scheduled to speak at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and later that day, he will announce the launch of direct flights between Buenos Aires and Tel Aviv.

During his last day in Israel, Milei will sign a “Memorandum of Understanding for Democracy and Freedom” with Netanyahu to strengthen cooperation against terrorism and antisemitism.

The agreement is intended as a counterweight to the MoU signed by former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner with Iran, which allegedly covered up the 1994 bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.

After signing the MoU, Milei and Netanyahu will deliver a joint declaration.

Since taking office over a year ago, Milei has been one of Israel’s most vocal supporters, strengthening bilateral relations to unprecedented levels and in the process breaking with decades of Argentine foreign policy tradition to firmly align with Jerusalem and Washington.

In February 2024, on his first international trip as president, Milei visited Israel in a show of wartime solidarity and reiterated his pledge to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem.

Earlier this year, more than 30 members of the Argentine Congress signed a Declaration of Solidarity and Friendship with the State of Israel in the Buenos Aires parliament. The declaration emphasized their unwavering support for Israel’s right to exist in peace and security, while also expressing strong backing for the recognition of Jerusalem as the country’s capital.

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