Javier Milei made the remarks upon his arrival to Israel, the place is he set to fulfill Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Argentina President Javier Milei has introduced plans to shift his nation’s embassy to Jerusalem as he launched into a go to to Israel.
The 53-year-old economist, who upended conventional politics to win election final 12 months, was greeted warmly by Israel’s Overseas Minister Israel Katz at Ben Gurion airport close to Tel Aviv.
Milei, on his first official go to since taking workplace barring a short swing by way of the Davos financial discussion board in Switzerland, stated, “My plan is to maneuver the embassy to west Jerusalem.”
Affirmation of the extensively anticipated announcement discovered favour with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose workplace stated he “warmly welcomes” the transfer.
“The prime minister spoke about this with President Milei after his election, and welcomes the truth that the president has saved his promise,” a press release learn.
Proper-winger Netanyahu and the libertarian Milei, who has been in contrast with former US president Donald Trump – who moved the US embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, are set to fulfill for talks on Wednesday, with the goal of deepening ties between the 2 international locations.
After his arrival, Milei headed to the Western Wall in occupied East Jerusalem’s historic Previous Metropolis, the holiest place the place Jews can pray.
His journey will even see him go to a kibbutz and meet households of hostages taken by the Palestinian armed group Hamas when it attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing at the least 1,139 individuals in response to an Al Jazeera tally primarily based on official Israeli figures. The group, which governs Gaza, seized about 240 different individuals as hostages.
After the Hamas assault, Israel launched a devastating bombardment and floor offensive on Gaza, whereas severely limiting provides of water, meals and support to the territory. The marketing campaign has lowered a lot of the territory to rubble and displaced greater than 80 p.c of Gaza’s residents.
Greater than 27,500 individuals have been killed within the Israeli assault, and greater than 66,000 others have been wounded, in response to Palestinian authorities.
Palestinian group Hamas stated it “strongly condemns” Milei’s announcement. Hamas, the group that governs Gaza, stated it considered the transfer “an infringement of the rights of our Palestinian individuals to their land, and a violation of the principles of worldwide legislation, contemplating Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian land”.
Milei, recognized for his fiery speeches and wild sideburns, describes himself as an “anarcho-capitalist”. He was raised in a Catholic household however has studied Jewish scripture.
After his election win in November, he visited the tomb of a revered rabbi in New York – a well-liked non secular vacation spot for some Jews.
Argentina’s Jewish group is 250,000 robust and one of many largest in Latin America.
From Israel, Milei heads to Rome on Friday for a gathering with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and a non-public viewers with Pope Francis.
Milei has beforehand criticised his fellow Argentinian however toned down his rhetoric extra just lately.
