Israeli FM meets Argentinian president-elect Milei on eve of his swearing-in

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen (right) meets with Argentinian president-elect Javier Milei in Buenos Aires on December 9, 2023. (Leandro Karmanchovsky/Foreign Ministry)
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen (right) meets with Argentinian president-elect Javier Milei in Buenos Aires on December 9, 2023. (Leandro Karmanchovsky/Foreign Ministry)

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen meets in Buenos Aires last night with Javier Milei, who will be sworn in today as Argentina’s new president.

The pair are accompanied by relatives of hostages being held in Gaza, including members of the Bibas family, who have Argentinian citizenship.

Cohen congratulates Milei on his election, and says that Argentina-Israel ties will strengthen under his leadership.

According to Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Milei expresses his “full solidarity with the Israeli people” in light of the Hamas assault, which he “condemns sharply and clearly.” Milei says he “fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself” and is looking into declaring Hamas a terror group in Argentina.

The pair also took part in a Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony along with local Argentinian Jews and family members of hostages. Milei wore a dog tag necklace given to him by the family members of the hostage which reads “Bring Them Home.”

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