Argentina’s President Javier Milei Starts Israel Trip at the Western Wall, Citing Justice and Jewish Heritage

Argentina’s President Javier Milei landed in Israel this morning (Sunday) for a state visit that will run through Tuesday. Milei is expected to hold a series of meetings and official events on an especially intensive schedule. 

He opened his official visit to Israel with a prayer at the Western Wall, immediately after landing in the country. This is his third state visit since taking office, and, similar to his previous trips, he once again chose to begin his day at the site sacred to the Jewish people.

During the visit, the president expressed deep emotion about being there and noted that it is the most important site for him. Together with the Rabbi of the Western Wall and the Holy Sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, he recited a chapter of Psalms and prayed for the peace of the nations and for the continued strengthening of friendship between peoples. Milei said: "My vision for the country is based on moral and faith-based values, on justice, and on Jewish heritage. Embracing God’s laws and sanctifying liberty, life, and private property are the keys to our prosperity. Only by honoring these laws will we achieve true freedom — physical and spiritual — and build a heaven on earth".

At the end of the visit, he offered a personal prayer, signed the guest book, and received from the Rabbi of the Western Wall his book "Avnei Derech" on the Jewish holidays, in English. According to the plan, similar to his previous visit, Milei is expected to return to the Wall toward the end of his visit to Israel and to conclude his official stay in the country there.

(צילום: הקרן למורשת הכותל המערבי)

This evening, Milei will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a one-on-one meeting, after which a signing event will be held for a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding between the countries. As part of this, the sides are expected to sign agreements in the fields of security and artificial intelligence. In addition, the two are expected to announce the launch of a direct El Al route between Ben-Gurion Airport and Buenos Aires, slated to begin operating within the coming year.

At the center of the visit is also a new diplomatic initiative that Milei is promoting — the "Yitzhak Accords," paralleling the idea of the Abraham Accords. The aim of the initiative is to strengthen ties between Israel and the countries of Latin America, with American backing.

Later in the evening, the Argentine president will attend the dress rehearsal for the torch-lighting ceremony, accompanied by Prime Minister Netanyahu. However, unlike the original plan, Milei will not take part in the ceremony itself, which will be held on Tuesday evening, and will leave Israel earlier that day in the afternoon. The public will be able to see him as part of the broadcast of the dress rehearsal.

On Monday, Milei is expected to receive an honorary doctorate from Bar-Ilan University, and later to hold a meeting with families of released hostages. In the afternoon, he will meet with President Isaac Herzog.

On Tuesday, before his departure, he will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and afterward will fly back to his country at 11:00 p.m.

In the announcement about his selection to light a torch on Independence Day, it was stated that "Milei, who has led Argentina for the past two and a half years, has expressed his support for Israel through a series of leadership steps — from recognizing the Revolutionary Guards, Hezbollah, and Hamas as terrorist organizations, through his efforts for the release of the hostages, the decision to change the name of 'Palestine' Street to 'Bibas Family' Street, and up to his vigorous struggle in international forums against antisemitism and for Israel’s right to defend itself".