Argentina–Israel relations

The countries established diplomatic relations on 31 May 1949.{{cite web |title=Biblioteca Nacional de Tratados [National Treaties Library] |url=https://tratados.cancilleria.gob.ar/busqueda.php?consulta=si&modo=c&pg=53 |access-date=17 February 2020 |language=es}}

Relations between the two were tied during the early years of Nazi hunting when Israel's Mossad kidnapped former Nazi Adolf Eichmann despite Argentine protestations of a violation of its sovereignty. Immediately after World War II, Argentina was a safe haven for former Nazi officials because they brought badly needed capital investment and/or technical expertise.{{Citation needed|date=December 2014}}

According to declassified British Foreign and Commonwealth Office documents, Israel sold arms to Argentina before and during the Falklands War in 1982. The arms sales to Argentina included Douglas A-4 Skyhawk jets which would later be used in the war with the United Kingdom.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/23/israel-sold-weapons-to-argentina-at-height-of-falklands-war-reve/|title=Israel sold weapons to Argentina at height of Falklands War, reveal declassified Foreign Office files|last=Blair|first=David|date=24 August 2016|work=The Telegraph|access-date=17 November 2018}}

Carlos Menem was the first head of state of Argentina to make a diplomatic visit to Israel, in 1991. He proposed to mediate between Israel and Syria in their negotiations over the Golan Heights.{{cite book |last= Reich|first= Bernard|date= 2008|title= Historical Dictionary of Israel|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Mf-xAAAAQBAJ|location= United States|publisher= Scarecrow Press|page= 52|isbn=9780810864030}} However, the relations were further tested when Hezbollah was blamed for bombing the Israeli embassy and a Jewish community centre in 1992 and 1994, respectively. Since 2013, roughly 100 Jewish organisations across Argentina have called for the government to repeal its pact with the Islamic Republic of Iran over the AMIA terrorist attacks.{{cite web|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1661656-amia-la-comunidad-judia-pedira-derogar-el-acuerdo|title=AMIA: la comunidad judía pedirá derogar el acuerdo|work=La Nacion|date=6 February 2014|access-date=23 January 2022|language=es|archive-date=13 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313142508/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1661656-amia-la-comunidad-judia-pedira-derogar-el-acuerdo|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Argentine Jews Slam 'Truth Commission' Deal With Iran |first=David |last=Lev |publisher=Arutz Sheva |date=28 January 2013 |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/164665#.URqQMTsWDmc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201223808/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/164665 |archive-date=2013-02-01 }}

While Argentina has the largest Jewish population in Latin America, there have been various cases of anti-Semitism in Argentina,{{cite web|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1411843-no-se-por-que-a-los-judios-nos-odian-tanto|title=No sé por qué a los judíos nos odian tanto|work=La Nacion|date=5 October 2011|access-date=23 January 2022|language=es|archive-date=22 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222155203/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1411843-no-se-por-que-a-los-judios-nos-odian-tanto|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/07/AR2009020701972.html|title=Jews in S. America Increasingly Uneasy|newspaper=The Washington Post|first1=Juan|last1=Forero|first2=Joshua|last2=Partlow|date=8 February 2009|access-date=23 January 2022}} such as the desecration of 58 Jewish graves in La Tablada by unknown peoples in 2009,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/america_latina/2009/09/090915_0710_antisemitismo_argentina_amab.shtml|title=¿Crece el antisemitismo en Argentina?|work=BBC Mundo|first=Valeria|last=Perasso|date=15 September 2009|access-date=23 January 2022|language=es}} mostly due to negative stereotypes of Jews controlling business interests and dominating the world through capitalism, as well as Israel's affiliation with the United States.{{Cite web |last=Braylan |first=Marisa |year=2013 |title=Informe sobre antisemitismo en la Argentina en 2012 |url=http://www.daia.org.ar/2013/uploads/documentos/64/Informe%20antisemitismo%202012%20web.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221130618/http://www.daia.org.ar/2013/uploads/documentos/64/Informe%20antisemitismo%202012%20web.pdf |archive-date=21 February 2014 |access-date=5 February 2014 |website=Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentina}}{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/18/argentina.antisemitism/ | work=CNN | title=Anti-Semitic violence stirs concern in Argentina|first=Javier|last=Doberti | date=18 May 2009|access-date=23 January 2022}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jta.org/2013/11/11/default/report-more-argentinian-anti-semitic-incidents-take-place-online-in-2012|title=Argentina anti-Semitism drops overall, grows online|work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date=11 November 2013|access-date=23 January 2022}}

In 2010, Argentina announced the intention to join Brazil in recognising an independent Palestinian state, provoking sharp criticism from Israel.{{cite news |author=Akiva Eldar |date=11 February 2012 |title=Argentine President calls for regional involvement in Israeli-Palestinian conflict |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/argentine-president-calls-for-regional-involvement-in-israeli-palestinian-conflict-1.412332 |access-date=1 March 2012 |newspaper=Haaretz}} On 6 December 2010, Argentina subsequently recognised the State of Palestine on the borders of 4 June 1967 (i.e., the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem), which constituted Arab territory prior to the Six-Day War.{{cite web |author=Government of Argentina |title=La Republica Argentina ha reconocido a Palestina como Estado libre e independiente |url=http://www.mrecic.gov.ar/portal/ver_adjunto.php?id=3048 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs |date=6 December 2010 |access-date=24 October 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531185526/http://www.mrecic.gov.ar/portal/ver_adjunto.php?id=3048 |archive-date=31 May 2011}} In 2012, Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner met an Israeli-Palestinian delegation and announced that Argentina would spearhead the Latin American role in reinvigorating the peace process in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

In September 2017, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid an official visit to Argentina, becoming the first Israeli Prime Minister in office to visit Argentina and Latin America.{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.811826|title=Netanyahu Touches Down in Argentina for 'Historic' Latin America Visit|work=Haaretz|date=11 September 2017|access-date=23 January 2022}}

In March 2019, two Iranian citizens used fake Israeli passports to leave Spain and different fake Israeli passports to enter Argentina. Realising that the passports were fraudulent, Argentinian police arrested the suspects. Argentinian prosecutors discovered that the suspects had previously used fake passports to enter other countries, including Portugal.{{cite news |last=Einhorn |first=Alon |date=March 25, 2019 |title=Argentinian Minister Reveals Details on Iranians with Israeli Passports |url=https://www.jpost.com/International/Argentinian-Minister-reveals-details-on-Iranians-with-Israeli-passports-584566 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=March 26, 2019 }}

In January 2020, President Alberto Fernández travelled to Israel for his first presidential trip abroad. There he paid respects to the victims of the Holocaust and maintained a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who thanked him for keeping Hezbollah branded as a terrorist organisation, a measure taken by Fernández's predecessor Mauricio Macri.{{cite news |last1=Lejtman |first1=Román |title=Alberto Fernández, a Netanyahu: "Nuestro compromiso por saber la verdad de lo que pasó en la AMIA es absoluto" |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/01/24/alberto-fernandez-a-netanyahu-nuestro-compromiso-sobre-saber-la-verdad-de-lo-que-paso-en-la-amia-es-absoluto/ |access-date=16 February 2020 |work=Infobae |date=24 January 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |title=Benjamin Netanyahu felicitó a Alberto Fernández por mantener la postura contra Hezbollah |url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/internacional/alberto-fernandez-realiza-una-declaracion-conjunta-con-el-primer-ministro-israeli-benjamin-netanyahu.phtml |access-date=16 February 2020 |work=Perfíl |date=24 January 2020 |language=es}}

File:Javier Milei visit to Israel, February 2024 (GPOHZ1 4564).jpg and Israeli President Isaac Herzog shake hands in Beit HaNassi in Jerusalem on 6 February 2024]]

File:Mileiprimerministroisrael.jpg on June 2025]]

In the aftermath of the 2023 Argentine general election and Javier Milei's victory, President-elect Milei pledged to move the Argentine Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,{{Cite news |date=20 November 2023 |title=Argentina's Milei Plans 'Spiritual' Trip to US and Israel Before Taking Office |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-20/argentina-s-milei-plans-spiritual-trip-to-us-and-israel-soon |access-date=21 November 2013 |work=Bloomberg.com}}{{Cite web |title=Who is Argentina's Israel-loving president-elect, Javier Milei? |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-war-argentina-javier-milei-president-elect-who |access-date=21 November 2023 |website=Middle East Eye}} and announced as part of "a spiritual trip" alongside rabbis he studies with, Milei would visit the Western Wall and Israel before his inauguration on 10 December 2023.{{Cite web |title=President-Elect Javier Milei Promises 'Spiritual' Israel Trip, Will Move Embassy to Jerusalem - The Jewish Voice |url=https://thejewishvoice.com/2023/11/president-elect-javier-milei-promises-spiritual-israel-trip-will-move-embassy-to-jerusalem/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=thejewishvoice.com|date=21 November 2023 }}{{Cite news |last1=Melamed/JTA |first1=Juan |last2=Press |first2=Associated |date=2023-11-20 |title=With an Israeli flag and a chainsaw: 'Trump of Argentina' elected president |language=en |work=Ynetnews |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1i11i5004t |access-date=2023-11-21}} In December 2023, President Javier Milei announced that his government is working on designating Hamas as a terrorist organization.{{cite web|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/milei-confirmo-que-el-gobierno-esta-trabajando-para-declarar-a-hamas-como-organizacion-terrorista-nid23122023/|work=La Nación|date=23 December 2023|access-date=5 January 2024|language=es|title=Milei confirmó que el Gobierno "está trabajando" para declarar a Hamas como organización terrorista}} In February 2024, Argentinian President Javier Milei visited Israel, making Israel his first bilateral overseas destination as president.{{cite news |title=Argentina's Milei feted and criticised for Jerusalem embassy plan |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240206-argentina-s-milei-feted-and-criticised-for-jerusalem-embassy-plan |work=France 24 |date=6 February 2024 |language=en}} In May 2024, President Javier Milei's government broke with Argentina’s previous position on Palestine, voting against recognition of Palestinian state at United Nations. The vote was in line with the country’s pro-Israel shift in its foreign policy.{{cite news |last1=Massoud |first1=Adla |title=Which nine countries voted against Palestine's UN membership? |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/2024/05/10/which-are-the-nine-countries-that-voted-against-palestines-un-membership/ |work=The National |date=10 May 2024 |language=en}}

In 2025, Milei reaffirmed his pledge to move the embassy to Jerusalem,{{Cite news |last=Eichner |first=Itamar |date=2025-05-29 |title=Argentina’s president to visit Israel, reaffirm embassy move to Jerusalem |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rybi11giflg |access-date=2025-06-08 |work=Ynetnews |language=en}} and El Al announced plans to launch direct passenger flights between the two countries. {{Cite web |last=Melamed |first=Juan |title=Argentina’s ambassador to Israel says El Al to begin direct Buenos Aires flights |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/argentinas-ambassador-to-israel-says-el-al-fly-set-to-begin-direct-buenos-aires-flights/ |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}

File:Arroyo 910 - Embajada de Israel en Argentina.jpg

• Argentina has an embassy in Tel Aviv.[http://eisra.mrecic.gov.ar Embassy of Argentina in Tel-Aviv (in Spanish)]
• Israel has an embassy in Buenos Aires and honorary consulates in Córdoba and Mendoza.[http://embassies.gov.il/buenos-aires/Pages/Embajada_de_Israel_en_Argentina.aspx Embassy of Israel in Buenos Aires (in Spanish)]

• Argentine Jews in Israel
• History of the Jews in Argentina
• International recognition of Israel

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080926094312/http://www.mrecic.gov.ar/portal/seree/ditra/il.html Argentine Ministry of Foreign Relations: list of bilateral treaties with Israel (in Spanish only)]
• [http://buenosaires.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/missionhome.asp?LanguageID=0&Question2=&MissionID=1&MissionID= Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires]

{{Foreign relations of Argentina}}

{{Foreign relations of Israel}}

{{Jews and Judaism in Argentina}}

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Israel

Category:Bilateral relations of Israel