Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, with Argentine President Javier Milei. June 10, 2025, Photo: GPO news Telegram
During a time of increasing diplomatic isolation and international criticism of Israel, Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, visited Israel this week, meeting political leaders and praying for the return of the Israeli hostages at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
As with his previous visits, Milei – who has frequently expressed his love for Judaism – made the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City his first stop.
Milei has also appointed several Jews to senior positions in his administration, including Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein and the ambassador to Israel, Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish, who both accompanied him.
מהשגריר @axelwahnish:
הוא הגיע. pic.twitter.com/G0dV2zPdEw
— Rabbi Wahnish (@rabbiwahnish) June 9, 2025
While praying at the wall, Milei declared, “My support for Israel comes from the heart, because I believe this is a just cause – the cause of the West. I will always stand by your side.”
Later on Tuesday, Milei was received by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.
“Javier – You are a true friend of Israel! I met today in Jerusalem with Argentine President Javier Milei, a courageous leader, lover of Israel, and fighter for freedom,” Netanyahu stated, adding that he expressed his “full support for our right to defend ourselves against our enemies, saying that Israel’s victory is a victory for the entire free world.”
pic.twitter.com/cRsIZ1FD00
— Rabbi Wahnish (@rabbiwahnish) June 10, 2025
Netanyahu also praised Milei “for the market economy he is leading in his country, which has greatly contributed to its prosperity and effected change.” Milei is set to give a speech about his economic policies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem on Thursday.
Upon welcoming Milei to the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, Herzog praised Argentina’s steadfast support and moral clarity amid a torrent of criticism against Israel, while highlighting the deep ties between the countries.
“Mr. President, it is no secret that true friends are measured in times of crisis… The State of Israel, and I at its head, will always remember your standing by Israel and your arrival here to stand with us in our time of great hardship. We will always remember your resolute calls and actions for the immediate return of all the hostages, including those who hold Argentine citizenship,” Herzog said.
Libertad!
Freedom!
חרות! pic.twitter.com/WKSPCCzmCf
— Rabbi Wahnish (@rabbiwahnish) June 10, 2025
“I now call on all the leaders of the free world – to stand with unified, determined resolve – and to declare unequivocally: no diplomatic progress can be made until the hostages are released. Hamas and its supporters, even at the state level, see great success in dividing us – the nations that seek stability, quiet, and peace.”
“I will never forget your tears of sorrow during our joint visit to Kibbutz Nir Oz; nor your decision to declare two days of mourning in Argentina upon learning of the bitter fate of the Bibas family – Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel, of blessed memory – who were brutally murdered by vile terrorists in an act of unmatched cruelty,” Herzog continued.
“I could not help but think of them – of the Bibas family – when I recently visited the bereaved family of Yaron Lischinsky , a diplomat at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, who was murdered by a vile terrorist, together with his partner, Sarah Milgrim, a young American woman who also worked with him. Yaron’s father – Daniel – is a proud Argentine citizen, who grew up in Argentina,” he said.
“My conversation with him, in the shadow of the terrible tragedy that struck his family, also brought to light the deep bond – sometimes a painful one – between our two countries.”
There are an estimated 50,000 Jews with Argentinian heritage in Israel, the most prominent of whom is Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, whose father immigrated from there.
Many Argentinian Jews settled in kibbutzim along the Gaza border, and several of those kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, held Argentinian passports, including the Bibas children .
During Milei’s packed two-day visit, he was also due to meet the families of hostages and receive the Genesis Prize in the Knesset for changing Argentina’s previous anti-Israel voting pattern at the United Nations, and for officially designating Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations.
The Argentinian president will reportedly use the $1 million award to promote a diplomatic initiative to strengthen ties between Israel and Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, Panama and Uruguay.
Milei will also officially announce the launch of direct flights between Buenos Aires and Tel Aviv, in a strong symbol of support amid ongoing flight cancellations due to the war.
Last week, the Argentinian Ambassador Wahnish told The Jerusalem Post that Buenos Aires is working on a draft of a “Memorandum of Liberty and Democracy,” also dubbed the “Isaac Accords,” which calls for unprecedented cooperation between Israel and Latin American countries.
This would include cooperation on counterterrorism and cybercrime investigations, and the establishment of fast-track customs lanes, joint satellite launches and water-technology hubs.
Wahnish reported that Paraguay and Ecuador had already signaled their interest, while several other Latin American democracies may also join.