Argentina's 'anarcho-capitalist' president will move embassy to Jerusalem
(Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP)
Argentina’s President Javier Milei announced plans to move the South American country’s embassy to Jerusalem during a visit to Israel where he received a rapturous welcome from Israel’s political leaders.
Milei, the far-right libertarian recently elected on a promise to fix Argentina’s flailing economy, landed in Israel late on Tuesday via a commercial flight for the start of his three-day official visit.
"I warmly welcome the arrival to Israel of the President of Argentina, Israel's friend, Javier Milei, who announced the relocation of Argentina's embassy to Jerusalem. Welcome, dear friend!" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on the social media platform X.
Besides his free-market bent, Milei has made unabashed displays of support for Israel, such as waving its flag and having himself pictured with books on Jewish history while wearing the kippah head covering.
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Upon his arrival, Milei, who studies the Torah and has expressed interest in converting to Judaism, visited the Western Wall in occupied East Jerusalem.
Onlookers waving Argentinian flags shouted his campaign slogan, "Long live freedom, damn it!" the AFP reported.
The South American leader, known for his trademark mutton-chop sideburns and unruly hair, was photographed crying as he hugged the wall, one of Judaism’s holiest sites. He was wearing a black kippah, which is customary for visitors to the site.
According to the Spanish daily El Pais, a major milestone in Milei’s journey towards philosemitism and Zionism began in 2021 when he was trying to counter accusations of neo-Nazi sympathies.
A Jewish contact put the former economist in touch with Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish, with whom Milei had a “cabalistic” encounter in which he was told he would lead a liberation movement in his home country.
The word “cabalistic” is a reference to Kabbalah, a mystic branch of Judaism. Milei is reported to have an interest in eastern mysticism and has worked as a tantric sex coach.
Milei has continued his relationship with Wahnish, with the latter serving as Milei’s Torah tutor.
Milei's rabbi to be named ambassador
In a meeting with Netanyahu on Wednesday, Milei pledged to deepen cooperation with Israel and said he planned to designate Hamas as a terrorist group.
Milei is also set to visit a kibbutz and meet families of hostages taken by Hamas in its 7 October attack on southern Israel. Milei has sent a bill to the Argentinian parliament, calling for Hamas to release the roughly 100 hostages it holds from the attack, 11 of whom Milei said are Argentinian.
In addition to government ministers, Milei is being accompanied on the trip by Rabbi Wahnish, whom the Jewish Chronicle reported he would nominate as Argentina’s next ambassador to Israel.
Milei was elected Argentina’s president in November 2023, promising to reform Argentina’s beleaguered economy, which is being ravaged by a 210 percent inflation rate.
The outspoken leader describes himself as an “anarcho-capitalist”, but he has also been compared to former US President Donald Trump, who professes more protectionist economic policies.
His support for Israel goes against the tide of other, mainly leftist South American governments that have criticised Israel’s campaign in Gaza.
Israel's offensive in the besieged enclave has killed more than 27,585 Palestinians, over 70 percent of whom are children and women, according to Palestinian health officials. Roughly 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas-led attack which prompted Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
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