By: Fern Sidman

In a powerful show of solidarity with the State of Israel, Argentinian President Javier Milei addressed a special plenary session of the Knesset on Wednesday, delivering a speech that The Times of Israel described as both emotionally stirring and politically consequential. The centerpiece of his address was a formal announcement that Argentina will relocate its embassy to Jerusalem—a move slated to take effect in 2026, solidifying Argentina’s place among the small but symbolically potent group of nations to recognize Israel’s contested capital.

“I am proud to declare that in 2026 we will make effective the move of our embassy to the city of West Jerusalem,” Milei stated from the Knesset podium, according to a report that appeared in The Times of Israel. The declaration received enthusiastic applause from lawmakers across the political spectrum.

Milei’s remarks were met with effusive praise from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid—each highlighting the deepening ties between Jerusalem and Buenos Aires under Milei’s pro-Israel leadership. “Javier, you are a true friend,” said Netanyahu. “This visit brings our relations to new heights. 12,000 kilometers separate our capitals, but that great distance is compensated by the closeness of our hearts.”

According to the information provided in The Times of Israel report, Netanyahu thanked Milei for “standing by our side in the campaign against the forces of darkness,” and praised his moral clarity in the face of terror, adding, “We will not fall, nor will we surrender. We will win, and we will bring back all the living and the dead.”

Speaker Ohana took it a step further, declaring Milei “the best friend ever to the State of Israel and the Jewish people” in Argentina’s modern history. “You have chosen truth over comfort, faith over fashion, and a moral compass over an automatic majority,” Ohana said, emphasizing the historical and ethical weight of Milei’s support.

Milei opened his speech on a solemn note, invoking the memory of the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led massacre, which killed over 1,200 Israelis and left 251 hostages in terrorist hands. The Argentinian president spoke with gravity, noting that the attack shattered any illusions of lasting peace. “The world witnessed great barbarity,” he said. “We believed that we had finally put an end to this barbarity — the tragedy of October 7 woke us up from this dream.”

The Times of Israel reported that Milei expressed strong disapproval of international equivocation on the matter, stating, “Argentina stands by you in these difficult days. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about a large part of the international community that is being manipulated by terrorists and turning victims into perpetrators.”

He was particularly pointed in his criticism of climate activist Greta Thunberg, who was detained and deported by Israeli authorities earlier in the week. According to the report in The Times of Israel, Milei dismissed her actions as self-serving: “Thunberg became a hired gun for a bit of media attention, claiming she was kidnapped—when there are real hostages living in subhuman conditions in Gaza.”

“How does the world allow a murderous terrorist organization to continue to hold innocent civilians hostage?” he asked, rhetorically. “When the sides are good and evil, there is no moral equality here.”

In a more uplifting segment of his speech, Milei turned his attention to what he termed “the miracles of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.” According to the information contained in The Times of Israel report, he identified three pivotal miracles: the establishment of Israel after the Holocaust, its survival against repeated existential threats, and the agricultural revolution that “made the desert bloom.”

“You managed to grow food on land where nothing else grew,” he said, in a moment that underscored his admiration not only for Israel’s military resilience but also its ingenuity and innovation.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid took an unconventional approach in his remarks, addressing Milei directly in Spanish from the Knesset rostrum. “Since the prime minister doesn’t understand Spanish, I can tell you in secret that we disagree on almost everything,” he joked. “But there are two things on which we agree: First, the Jews have the right to defend themselves. Second, your friendship and support for Israel move us all.”

Switching to Hebrew, Lapid drew a coded contrast between Milei’s sweeping economic reforms and Netanyahu’s governing style. Citing Milei’s swift closure of “unnecessary ministries” and budget cuts in Argentina, Lapid called him a model for governmental efficiency. “Let’s learn from the man who came to visit us today,” he quipped.

As The Times of Israel report noted, this visit marks a watershed moment in Argentina-Israel relations, building on a series of pro-Israel policy decisions from Milei since his inauguration. The decision to relocate the embassy to Jerusalem is likely to be welcomed by the Israeli government as a bold gesture of political and ideological alignment, particularly as global pressure on Israel mounts in the aftermath of the Gaza war.

Milei’s announcement aligns Argentina with a growing number of countries, including the United States and Guatemala, that have recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, despite widespread international controversy and Palestinian opposition.

Above all, Milei’s speech sent an unambiguous message to both Israel and its critics. As The Times of Israel reported, the Argentinian leader repeatedly framed the conflict not as a political dispute, but as a moral battle between “good and evil.” In doing so, he echoed longstanding Israeli rhetoric, while elevating Argentina to the ranks of Israel’s most ardent diplomatic allies.

In the Knesset chamber, amid applause from both government and opposition benches, it was clear that this was not a routine diplomatic event. For Milei, the speech was both a personal declaration of faith in Israel’s cause and a firm geopolitical stance.

“This isn’t just about embassies and politics,” said one senior Israeli official quoted by The Times of Israel. “It’s about who stands with us when it truly matters. And today, Argentina stood tall.”