By P. Choiaqo
Key Takeaways:
- Netanyahu has authorized Israeli diplomats to move toward supporting Argentina’s Falkland Islands claim, short of full recognition, in response to British sanctions on West Bank settlements.
- The shift follows Ed Miliband’s “ethnic cleansing” sanctions, which prompted Israel to shrink Britain’s West Bank consulate and expel diplomats, and coincides with renewed Argentine advocacy after Trump declined to back Britain.
- This is Israel’s first involvement in the dispute, with analysts questioning whether a post-election Netanyahu government would go further.
(Albawaba) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized diplomats to move toward supporting Argentina’s claim over the Falkland Islands after British sanctions on illegal settlements
Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Argentina’s Javier Milei share a close bond, with Milei having visited Israel and prayed at the Western Wall.
The move by Netanyahu falls just short of recognizing Argentina’s claim of sovereignty over the islands but shows that Israel is willing to go further if Britain imposes any further sanctions on the illegal settlements in the West Bank.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband imposed the sanctions on the settlements while describing Israel’s actions as “ethnic cleansing”, which prompted a fierce Israeli response wherein Britain’s consulate in the West Bank was severely shrunk and British diplomats were expelled from the country.
Argentina has driven a renewed political push for the Falkland Islands (which it calls Las Malvinas) after U.S. President Donald Trump said that he would not back Britain in any conflict over the issue.
One source described the statement, saying “the wording of the statement itself got approved at the highest ranks of the Israeli government,
“This is the first time Israel has got involved in this conflict.”
Some analysts raised concerns whether the issue could go further if Netanyahu wins the election and remains as the Israeli government’s Prime Minister.
