Diplomatic Events

The President of the Argentine Republic, Javier Milei, was received with full honors in an official ceremony in the Israeli Parliament by Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana, President of Israel Isaac Herzog, and  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

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Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana stated: "This is a historic moment in Israel-Argentina relations. With you, the friendship between the two countries has deepened. It is an honor to welcome you to the heart of Israeli democracy. We will not forget how Argentina's voting pattern in international institutions changed upon taking office. How you supported us in the first and most difficult moments of October 7th, when we needed our friends most." Not only did you condemn Hamas, but you declared it a terrorist organization, froze its assets, traveled to Israel on a solidarity visit following the attack, hugged the families of the victims, and expressed solidarity with the families of those kidnapped. You have called the institution hypocritical, the "many-armed whale," on the UN stage, attacked its anti-Israel policy against the only democracy in the Middle East, and opposed the despicable arrest warrants issued against the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense. You have stood up to Iran, the malign force currently financing the war being waged against Israel on seven fronts. Argentina, under your leadership, has emerged as a courageous ally of Israel, an ally that carries the torch of moral clarity. This torch burns brightly today, and we will hold it together to continue strengthening the alliance between our two free and proud democracies, which stand firm against the winds of time. By supporting the State of Israel, you and the Argentine people have intertwined yourselves in the eternal history of the Jewish people. Long live the State of Israel, long live Argentina, long live freedom!

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Thank you for supporting us in the fight against the forces of darkness. You stood firm for the truth and against falsehood, understanding that this is a just war like no other." "Together we will achieve great things for the benefit of Argentina and Israel." Together we will move forward toward more years of courageous, strong, and lasting friendship. Javier, you are a true friend. With this visit, we are taking our relations to new heights. 12,000 kilometers separate Buenos Aires, Israel, and the Knesset in Jerusalem. This great distance is offset by the closeness of our hearts.

A year and a half ago, you burst into the presidency of your country. You brought with you a unique, authentic, and decisive leadership style. An overwhelming style, and from the very first moment, you expressed your total support for Israel. For 20 months, we have been fighting the human monsters who kidnapped, raped, and beheaded us on October 7th. In the face of this brutal and unprecedented aggression, you said clearly: we stand by you in the battle against the forces of darkness. Thank you for standing by us in the battle against the forces of darkness. You stood on the side of truth and against lies, understanding that this is a just war without equal. It is a barbaric war that threatens the entire world.

 

Opposition Leader, MP Yair Lapid: "Mr. President, you come to us at a difficult time for the people of Israel. Because that is what true friends do. They come to support us in difficult times. You come to us after the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Our children are being kidnapped in the tunnels of Gaza, and the world, as always, blames us.

The war in Gaza can stop tomorrow. If Hamas lays down its weapons, there will be no war. If Hamas leaves Gaza, the children will not die. Why does the world demand that Israel stop a war we did not start? Why doesn't the world demand that Hamas stop fighting?" Golda Meir, former Prime Minister of Israel, once said: "If the Arabs decide one day to lay down their arms, there will be no war. If the Israelis decide one day to lay down their arms, there will no longer be a State of Israel."

Mr. President, we live in a time where lies are more powerful than the truth. Terrorists call themselves "freedom fighters," murderous terrorist organizations call themselves "human rights organizations." It takes a special kind of character to see through lies. You have that strength. We appreciate it.

Lapid addressed Milei in Spanish and said: "Sir, since the Prime Minister doesn't speak Spanish, I can tell you in secret that we disagree on almost nothing. But there are two things we agree on.

The first is that Jews have the right to defend themselves. Israel will not surrender or bend. Neither in the face of terrorism nor in the face of lies.

The second is that your friendship and support for Israel moves us all, and we welcome you on your visit to the Holy Land."
Lapid returned to Hebrew and addressed the Argentine president's economic reforms: "The president before you, Honorable Knesset, is not only a great friend of Israel, but also a true economic right-winger. He is a right-winger through and through. And that's why, do you know what the first thing he did was the first day he took office, in December 2023?
The first thing he did was close half of the ministries. He closed all the unnecessary ministries. Today they have eight ministries. A country of 46 million people. Enough for them. He cut jobs, fired his cronies, reduced  social benefits, fought against the culture of leisure and living at the expense of others.

 

At the special Knesset plenary session, where he received an impressive standing ovation, the Argentine president stated: "Argentina stands with you in these difficult days.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of much of the international community, which is being manipulated by terrorists and turning victims into perpetrators. When both There are good and bad sides; there is no moral equality.
Argentina was one of the first countries to recognize the State of Israel in 1947, and I am very honored to be the first Argentine president to give a speech in the Israeli Parliament.
President Milei officially announced the relocation of the Argentine Embassy to Jerusalem in 2026.
With the Hamas attack on October 7, the people of Israel fell victim to the greatest cruelty of the last 80 years. We see the shadow of antisemitism returning, even to Western countries. The humanitarian lessons we thought were unforgettable have eroded. We thought we had put an end to barbarism, but the tragedy of July 10 woke us from that dream. We Argentines experienced it firsthand at the Israeli embassy in the 1990s, where 114 people were murdered. On October 7, 251 people were kidnapped, including 21 American citizens. Four Argentine citizens remain in captivity, and we will continue to demand their release. Liberation.
The West is being tested by various forms of barbarism that attack it. The West is being poisoned from within by the barbarism of the relativist movement that has distorted our morality. Like that climate activist who became a hitman in exchange for a little media attention, claiming she was kidnapped when in fact hostages are being held in inhumane conditions in Gaza.
The point is that the way basic moral principles have been corrupted paves the way for terrorism, as it legitimizes the methods of unscrupulous terrorists. How can the world allow a murderous terrorist organization to continue holding innocent civilians hostage?
When both sides are good and evil, there is no moral equality. Argentina will speak out and defend nations that want to defend Western culture. At the beginning of my term, I said that I consider Israel and the United States to be our two main strategic partners. In the past, we have allied ourselves with tyrants, intolerance, and oppression because that was the direction they wanted to take the country, but we have We have chosen freedom and Western, democratic values.
Sharing the same ideals makes us allies. Our government affirms Israel's right to defend itself.
We did not hesitate to declare Hamas a terrorist organization, and in 2026 we will move our embassy to Jerusalem. Tomorrow we will sign a memorandum on freedom and democracy, and the fight against terrorism and antisemitism.
It is important to understand that we are in the midst of a battle between good and evil, and that we begin to lose it when we begin to fail to distinguish between the two.
The international community urgently needs to reconnect with its moral compass. To decide, it is enough to look at the facts: on the one hand, barbaric terrorism that only kills and destroys, and on the other, the only bastion in the region where there is freedom and democracy.
Argentina is experiencing its own exodus; it is liberating itself after 100 years of political past and has become one of the countries with the highest tax burden in the world. Our government inherited more than 50% poverty. They elected a new man. a political outsider who can lead the nation. We were elected to make Argentina a freer country, and we won't rest until we achieve it.