Argentine President Javier Milei has announced that his country will relocate its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem next year, in a show of support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The embassy is currently located in Herzliya, just outside Tel Aviv. During a speech to Israel’s parliament, Milei stated, “I’m proud to announce that we will move our embassy to the city of west Jerusalem” in 2026.
Milei expressed Argentina’s solidarity with Israel, saying, “Argentina stands by you in these difficult days. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about a large part of the international community that is being manipulated by terrorists and turning victims into perpetrators.” He also emphasized the importance of releasing Israeli captives held in Gaza, including four with Argentine citizenship taken during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack.
The Argentine leader criticized Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who was detained and deported by Israeli authorities after participating in a Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade on Gaza. Milei said, “[Thunberg] became a hired gun for a bit of media attention, claiming that she was kidnapped when there are really hostages in subhuman conditions in Gaza.”
The status of Jerusalem is a delicate issue in the Israel-Palestinian conflict, with Israel claiming the entirety of the ancient city as its capital, while Palestine claims its occupied eastern sector as the capital of any future Palestinian state. Currently, only six countries have embassies located in West Jerusalem. Milei’s decision follows in the footsteps of the United States, which recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017 and relocated its embassy in 2018.
The international community has been closely watching the developments in the Israel-Palestine conflict, with many countries expressing concerns over the relocation of embassies to Jerusalem. Milei’s decision to move Argentina’s embassy has sparked debate, with some supporting the move as a recognition of Israel’s sovereignty and others criticizing it as a disregard for Palestinian claims to the city.