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Edited by: TJVNews.com
In a surprising turn of events, Argentina’s presidential election on Sunday saw the victory of Javier Milei, a populist maverick and self-proclaimed “anarcho-capitalist,” as was reported by the Algemeiner.com. Milei has wasted no time in revealing his post-election plans, including visits to both the United States and Israel before officially assuming office.
In a radio interview on Monday morning, Milei disclosed his travel plans, stating, “I travel with some regularity to the United States. From New York, I will go to Israel — we have already been talking to the Israeli Ambassador in Argentina,” according to the Algemeiner report. This announcement aligns with Milei’s longstanding affinity for Israel, a key theme in his campaign evidenced by the frequent display of Israeli flags at his rallies.
Milei’s unconventional political stance, coupled with his nickname “El Loco” (“The Crazy One”), has made him a controversial figure. However, his outspoken support for Israel and admiration for Judaism were central to his campaign. As was indicated in the Algemeiner report, he has been known to study Torah with Rabbi Shimon Wahnish in Buenos Aires and has openly considered converting to Judaism, albeit with the acknowledgment that such a move would be incompatible with the demands of the presidential office.
The president-elect’s upcoming trip to the United States is framed as a spiritual journey, with a focus on spending time with his “rabbi friends” in New York, the Algemeiner report said. Milei emphasized the trip’s spiritual connotation more than its diplomatic aspects.
Following his electoral triumph over left-wing rival Sergio Massa, Milei wasted no time meeting with key figures. The Algemeiner report also said that among the first were the Israeli Ambassador in Buenos Aires, Eyal Sela, and a delegation from the AMIA Jewish Center. The DAIA, the representative body of Argentina’s 180,000-strong Jewish community, also congratulated Milei on his victory, highlighting an opportunity to combat anti-Semitism, discrimination, and xenophobia in the country.
The statement from the DAIA drew attention to the recent surge in anti-Semitism in Argentina, particularly following the Hamas pogrom in southern Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel’s subsequent military response. The Algemeiner reported that it referenced the more than 240 hostages seized by Hamas terrorists, including 21 Argentine citizens. The DAIA urged the Argentine authorities to use all available resources to secure the hostages’ freedom and prompt return home.
During his campaign, Milei criticized the previous Argentine government’s handling of the hostage situation, describing their position as too soft and asserting that it leaves the door open to terrorists with whom negotiation is not an option, the report added. As he prepares to assume office, Milei’s approach to addressing such international challenges will be closely watched, especially given his unorthodox political stance and commitment to combating anti-Semitism and terrorism.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen promptly extended congratulations to the president-elect, reminding him of a significant campaign promise regarding the relocation of Argentina’s Embassy in Israel, as was reported by the Algemeiner.
In a post on Twitter, Cohen expressed the Israeli government’s eagerness to collaborate with Milei in strengthening the ties between Israel and Argentina. The Algemeiner report said that Cohen specifically mentioned Milei’s campaign pledge to move the Argentine Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. The tweet read, “We look forward to working together with you to strengthen relations between Israel and Argentina and deepen ties between our peoples.”
