President Javier Milei declared on Sunday that the joint US-Israel war against Iran was the \u00abright thing to do\u00bb as he seized attention during his visit to the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Milei, who was welcomed enthusiastically by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also announced a new multilateral agreement, the so-called \u201cIsaac Accords,\u201d aimed at deepening bilateral ties between Israel and Latin American countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Making his third visit to Israel as President, Milei reaffirmed Argentina’s support for the campaign against Iran, citing his government’s earlier decision to designate the Islamic Republic’s Revolutionary Guards and the Quds Force as \u00abterrorist organisations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, his government expelled Iran\u2019s charg\u00e9 d\u2019affaires in Buenos Aires, Mohsen Soltani Tehrani, in response to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry containing what it called \u201cfalse, offensive and inappropriate accusations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00abWe expressed our firm support for the United States and Israel in their war against terrorism and against the Iranian regime, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because our countries are brothers in suffering,\u00bb Milei said in a joint statement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.<\/p>\n
\u00abArgentina was the victim of cowardly terrorist attacks on the AMIA and on the Embassy of Israel, both instigated by the Islamic Republic of Iran,\u00bb he added.<\/p>\n
Argentina has accused Iran of not cooperating with a probe into the 1994 bombing f the AMIA Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people and injured more than 300.<\/p>\n
Prior to that, in 1992, an explosion at the Israeli Embassy, also in Buenos Aires, killed 29 and wounded 200.<\/p>\n
Argentine courts have blamed both attacks on Iran, which has always denied involvement and refused to hand over suspects. Both attacks remain officially unsolved, though efforts to prosecute suspects in absentia are ongoing.<\/p>\n
\u00abTo this day, we still demand justice,\u00bb said the La Libertad Avanza leader, an outspoken supporter of both Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
\u00abWe reiterate our willingness to move the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem as soon as conditions allow. We consider it necessary, but above all, just,\u00bb he added.<\/p>\n
The leaders added in their joint statement that the US-backed Isaac accords mirror the Abraham Accords, the 2020 agreement under which several Arab countries normalised relations with Israel during Trump’s first term.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday we present the Isaac Accords, an initiative that seeks to extend that same spirit to Latin America,\u201d said a statement from Argentina’s Presidency.<\/p>\n
The initiative brings together \u201cthe descendants of Isaac and nations of the Judeo-Christian tradition, in defence of freedom and democracy, and in the fight against terrorism, anti-Semitism, and drug-trafficking,\u201d<\/p>\n
The accords were part of \u00aba new strategic framework,\u00bb it added, seeking\u00a0to strengthen diplomatic, commercial, cultural and strategic ties with Israel.\u00a0A series of strategic deals on security and AI are also included, Israeli media reported.<\/p>\n
Members of the accord will coordinate against \u201cIran\u2019s attempts to expand its terrorist networks and operational presence across the Western Hemisphere,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe initiative also seeks to foster coordination and alignment in international forums and to promote a framework to expand cooperation in innovation, technology, trade, and economic openness,\u00bb it added.<\/p>\n
In brief remarks at the signing ceremony, reported by The Times of Israel<\/em>, Milei said that \u00abIsrael is now a leading technological power, and Argentina has the human capital and regulatory freedom to become the world\u2019s next AI centre. We will develop joint models, train experts, and work together in international forums where the future of this technological revolution is determined.\u201d<\/p>\n Netanyahu said at the ceremony that he had \u00abgreat hope\u00bb that other Latin American countries would also sign on to the accords.<\/p>\n \u201cIt starts with the two of us and with the support that is always there from the US for free societies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also attended the ceremony and described Milei and Netanyahu as \u00abtwo of President Trump’s greatest friends.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00abI don’t know of any two world leaders on our planet that our president has more respect for and more personal relationship with,\u00bb he added.<\/p>\n Israel and Argentina also inked a deal to launch direct flights between Buenos Aires and Tel Aviv from November \u2013 a move Milei said would cement \u00aban unbreakable bond\u00bb between the two countries.<\/p>\n Netanyahu hailed Milei for showing \u00abmoral clarity\u00bb in standing with Israel.<\/p>\n \u00abPresident Milei… has shown that by standing up with the Jewish people, standing up against anti-Semitic vilifications, standing up in our hour of need, standing up when we fight the battle of civilisation against barbarism,\u00bb Netanyahu said.<\/p>\n Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described Milei on X as \u00abone of the boldest leaders of our age.\u201d<\/p>\n The La Libertad Avanza leader is due to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday.<\/p>\n Milei is due to receive the \u2018Presidential Medal of Honour,\u2019 Israel\u2019s highest civilian honour, in recognition of his \u201cunconditional support\u201d for his country.<\/p>\n Argentina is home to the largest Jewish community in Latin America, numbering nearly 300,000 people living mostly in Buenos Aires.<\/p>\n Milei and Netanyahu also announced that direct flights\u00a0between the two countries are in the works. Initial planning expects a new\u00a0Tel Aviv to Buenos Aires route to be running from December.<\/p>\n Earlier on Sunday, Milei visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, considered the holiest site where Jews are allowed to pray.<\/p>\n He had also visited the site in February 2024 and June 2025.<\/p>\n
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\n\u2013 TIMES\/AFP<\/p>\n