Argentina's Milei: Supporting Israel Means Defending Western Values

Argentine President Javier Milei reaffirmed his country's strong support for Israel on Tuesday evening, declaring that the alliance is rooted in shared values and a commitment to defending Western civilization.

Speaking at an event honoring Israel in Buenos Aires, Milei invoked the Ten Commandments and the historic victory of the Maccabees to explain why his government considers support for the Jewish state a matter of principle rather than personal political preference.

The event was organized by the Latin Coalition for Israel, whose leader, Mario Bermanik, presented Milei with the organization's “Gratitude Award” in recognition of his support for Israel and the Jewish people.

“From the first day of our government we stood alongside Israel, changing the direction of an Argentine foreign policy that had drifted away from the West,” Milei said.

“But it must be made clear: we are not defending Israel because of a personal whim of the president of the country, but because today it is the stronghold of our values in the world, facing those who want to destroy us.”

Milei described Israel as a defender of the principles that shaped Western civilization, arguing that Argentina's support reflects values shared by both nations.

“I am speaking about the values shared by all Argentines as members of the West, and it is enough to read the Ten Commandments to understand the values that shaped the West,” he said.

The Argentine president also drew on Jewish history, recalling the Maccabees' victory over the much larger forces of the Greek Empire more than 2,000 years ago.

Quoting the Book of Maccabees, Milei said, “Victory in war does not depend on the number of soldiers, but on the strength that comes from Heaven.”

He compared the Maccabees' struggle to the challenges Israel faces today, portraying the Jewish state as a source of light confronting forces seeking to extinguish the values it represents.

Milei also addressed rising antisemitism around the world, warning that Israel faces challenges not only to its existence but also to its right to defend itself.

During his remarks, he congratulated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the results of Israel's recent elections and expressed his belief that the country needs strong leadership to confront the challenges ahead.

The president also recalled Argentina's own history of deadly terrorist attacks against Jewish and Israeli targets.

In 1992, a bombing at the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires killed 29 people. Two years later, the bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center killed 85 people, bringing the combined death toll to 114.

Milei noted that Argentina's justice system has recognized the attacks as crimes against humanity and identified Iran and Hezbollah as responsible.

“Argentina knows what it is talking about when it speaks about terror, because it has known it firsthand,” he said.

Concluding his speech, Milei emphasized Argentina's alignment with Israel and Western leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu.

“Israel today holds that same light against the darkness, and Argentina has chosen to be at its side,” he declared.