Argentina moves to relocate embassy to Jerusalem, reaffirming support for Netanyahu

Argentine President Javier Milei on Thursday, June 12, 2025, officially announced that his country will relocate its embassy in Israel from Herzliya, near Tel Aviv, to Jerusalem in 2026.

The declaration came during a speech he delivered to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

There, Milei reiterated his strong support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which is facing growing international isolation.

In his address, Milei said, “I am proud to announce that Argentina will move its embassy to the city of West Jerusalem.”

This move signals a significant shift in Argentina’s foreign policy and a clear endorsement of Israel’s stance on Jerusalem.

“Argentina stands with you during these difficult times,” he added, showing solidarity amid heightened global scrutiny over Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Milei also criticized segments of the international community, claiming they were being “manipulated by terrorists” and wrongly blaming Israel for the ongoing conflict.

He argued that many nations are reversing the roles of aggressor and victim.

This marks Milei’s second visit to Israel since he took office in late 2023.

During his stay, he reaffirmed Argentina’s commitment to advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Among the hostages are four individuals with Argentinian citizenship who were abducted during the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023.

In his speech, Milei also condemned environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who had been detained and expelled by Israeli authorities earlier in the week.

Thunberg had joined other activists on a ship organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which attempted to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.

Thunberg has been outspoken in her condemnation of Israel’s military campaign and its alleged war crimes in Gaza, including accusations of deliberate starvation.

Responding to her actions, Milei remarked that Thunberg had “become a hired gun for media attention,” and criticized her for claiming she had been kidnapped.

“Meanwhile, there are real hostages suffering in inhumane conditions in Gaza,” he stated, according to an official Spanish-to-English translation of his remarks provided by the Knesset.

Israel currently faces rising condemnation over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 55,000 Palestinians have reportedly died since the war began more than 20 months ago.

The situation has intensified scrutiny of countries aligning with Israel, making Milei’s embassy announcement particularly controversial.

Milei had initially promised to relocate the embassy during his first official trip to Israel in February 2024.

At that time, he also visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem, a sacred site for Jews, symbolizing his deepening ties with the Israeli state.

Prime Minister Netanyahu welcomed Milei’s pledge, stating ahead of the Knesset address that “Jerusalem will never again be divided.”

His comment reflects the longstanding Israeli claim to the whole of Jerusalem as its undivided capital.

The status of Jerusalem remains one of the most contentious aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

While Israel considers the entire city its capital, Palestinians view East Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in 1967 and later annexed unilaterally in 1980, as the future capital of an independent Palestinian state.

This annexation has not been internationally recognized and was condemned by the United Nations Security Council.

Due to the sensitivity of the issue, most of the 96 foreign diplomatic missions in Israel remain in the Tel Aviv region to avoid prejudicing peace talks.

As of now, only six countries – Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and the United States – have moved their embassies to Jerusalem.

The U.S. embassy move occurred under President Donald Trump, who in 2017 unilaterally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The move sparked widespread international criticism and anger among Palestinians.

The Biden administration has maintained this recognition, and the U.S. embassy remains in Jerusalem today.

By following in the footsteps of these few nations, Milei’s government aligns itself more closely with Israel’s position on Jerusalem.

This marks a significant departure from Argentina’s traditionally more neutral stance in the conflict.

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