Argentina’s President Javier Millay concluded his visit to Israel on Tuesday with a meeting with his country’s President Isaac Herzog. There, the two sides exchanged gifts and Mr Milais expressed “concrete” support for his country in its war against the jihadist terrorist organization Hamas.
Milley’s visit, which began with a spiritual visit to the Western Wall on Tuesday afternoon, will be his first official foreign trip as president. Mr. Milay, an unprecedented liberal third-party candidate, was elected president of Argentina in November and took office a month later, dramatically shifting the country’s foreign policy to prioritize Israel and the United States. I swore.
“My first trip will be in the United States and then I’ll be traveling to Israel. That will be my first trip,” Millay said in November. In fact, as president-elect, he traveled to the United States in November and visited Oher, the sacred Jewish site in New York and the burial place of the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Millay was born and raised, catholichas openly discussed converting to Judaism, suggesting he may pursue that path after this presidential term ends.
Before Millais, Argentina had been under socialist rule for about 20 years, with the exception of the short-lived one-term government of former center-right president Mauricio Macri, and the Peronist leftist establishment was dominated by China, Russia, He emphasized friendly relations with rogue states such as Iran. .
“First of all, it is a real honor and a great pleasure for me to be in Israel. As I have said repeatedly, I am very excited on my first day to confirm that my first diplomatic visit as President will be to the State of Israel. “We have been working on this since then,” Milley said in a statement after meeting with Herzog at the presidential palace in Jerusalem. Israeli Government Press Office. “I am here now, keeping my promise, and I also want to say that I am glad that my first activity was a spiritual visit, a visit to the Kotel (Wailing Wall). Please let me.”
Milley said his presence in Israel is “concrete evidence of our efforts from day one on the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, which we have strongly condemned.”
“We not only condemn the acts of terrorism by Hamas, but also express our solidarity with the State of Israel and have continued to support Israel’s legitimate right to self-defense in this context,” it added.
Mr. Millais also promoted a bill in the Argentine Congress that would require the Herzog government to move forward with a protocol to designate Hamas (an Iran-backed Sunni terrorist organization based in Gaza) as a terrorist organization and to require the safe return of Hamas hostages. He told Mr. Herzog that
Argentine President Javier Millay meets with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the Israeli presidential residence in Jerusalem on February 6, 2023. (Haim Zack GPO)
Hamas carried out an unprecedented terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, killing an estimated 1,200 people in door-to-door raids on residential areas and committing widespread torture, gang rapes, kidnappings and other atrocities. . Milley pointed out that of the estimated 250 hostages stolen from Israel, 11 of the still missing hostages are Argentinians.
In a statement after a private meeting with Milley, President Herzog thanked Milley for his “love for the Jewish people and the Jewish nation-state, the State of Israel” and praised the “unique relationship” between Argentina and Israel. praised.
“You will be visiting a country that was brutally attacked on October 7th by a brutal terrorist organization that carried out barbaric and brutal attacks against Israeli citizens, taking hundreds of people hostage. ,” Herzog said. “There are currently 136 hostages in Gaza. We are praying and working tirelessly to bring them home as soon as possible.”
“I know you are supporting this fight, and through you I am also sending a message to the whole world: We want them home as soon as possible,” Herzog continued. . “We cannot wait any longer. Their suffering is immeasurable. And this violates any rule of human values.”
“The Jewish people and the state of Israel will always remember who supported us during these terrible times,” Herzog told Millais. “You obviously came forward and are here with us today. He is one of the greatest leaders.”
Millais and Herzog exchanged gifts: According to the Israeli president’s office, Herzog provided the Argentine president with a copy of the Hebrew Bible “in gratitude for his steadfast support for the State of Israel and the Jewish people.”argentina newspapers Clarin Millais reported that she had made an offer to Herzog. Alfajores – Iconic Argentinian cookies dulce de leche – and the crystal goblet “expresses the desire for prosperity and peace, as well as a symbol of hope, strength and fortitude in the face of adversity.”
The meeting with Herzog marked Millais’ second stop in Israel. He first headed to the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s holiest sites, where he prayed and greeted the crowds of supporters who had gathered to meet him.Mirei toured the site with me. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz was seen visibly crying during spiritual moments.
Joel B. Pollack/Breitbart News
Milley met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, toured the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, met with families of victims of the October 7 Hamas attack, and visited Kibbutz Nir, a residential area destroyed by Hamas. We are planning a tour to Oz. October 7th.
Joel B. Pollack/Breitbart News
After his stay in Israel, Millay will visit Rome and meet with Pope Francis, Argentina’s first head of the Catholic Church. Millais is also scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
