Argentina To Move Embassy to Jerusalem, Milei Tells Knesset
Speaking to near-full Knesset attendance on Wednesday, Argentine President Javier Milei pledged to move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem in 2026.
The session opened with remarks from President of the Knesset Amir Ohana, who described the event as “a historic moment in the annals of Israel-Argentina relations,” noting it was the first time the Israeli parliament hosted an Argentine head of state. Ohana praised Milei’s sweeping liberal reforms and Argentina’s post-October 7 solidarity.
“Not only did you condemn Hamas’ terror,” he said, “you froze its assets and arrived here in genuine solidarity—embracing bereaved families and standing with us in our darkest hour.”
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He also highlighted the Argentine president’s economic policy: “By slashing the public sector and government spending, you steered Argentina to a fiscal surplus and a dramatic reduction in inflation—outcomes that resonated across global markets,” he said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the announcement of the embassy relocation, calling it “a testament to the unbreakable bond between our peoples.” He associated Argentina’s political clarity with Israel’s ongoing fight against terrorism. “This is not merely a local war but a battle between civilization and barbarism,” Netanyahu said. “We will not yield, and we will bring every hostage home.”
He praised Milei’s economic turnaround as “hope in this hour of darkness,” aligning Argentina’s internal reforms with Israel’s struggle to remain a free and resilient democracy.
In a striking intervention, opposition leader Yair Lapid used the moment to deliver a direct critique of Israel’s current fiscal trajectory. “On your first day in office, you halved the number of ministries, cut bureaucracy, and dismantled crony networks,” Lapid told Milei. “Within a year, you reduced inflation by a third and delivered your country’s first balanced budget in over a decade.” Lapid warned that Israel’s own “runaway spending and swollen government” risk stifling growth and called on his colleagues to “learn from Argentina’s genuine economic conservatism” rather than continue down a path of wartime overreach.
Concluding the session, President Milei delivered an extensive address in which he reaffirmed Argentina’s solidarity with Israel and discussed plans to move the embassy. “This move underscores our commitment to your democracy and our shared values of freedom and rule of law,” he said.
Milei described the embassy shift as part of an emerging alliance of “free nations” united in defense of life, liberty, and Western civilization. He drew parallels between Israel’s historic resilience and Argentina’s recent economic recovery, citing achievements such as zero monetary issuance, a balanced budget, and a 22-point drop in poverty. He ended his speech with his signature cry: “¡Viva la libertad, carajo!”
