Argentina–Israel relations

Argentina-Israel relations

Israel
Argentina
Diplomatic Mission
Israeli Embassy, Buenos Aires Argentine Embassy, Tel Aviv
Envoy
Ambassador Ilan Sztulman[1] Ambassador Carlos Faustino García

Argentina–Israel relations refer to international relations between Argentina and Israel. Both countries established diplomatic relations on May 31, 1949.

History

President Mauricio Macri and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 2016.

Relations between the two were tied during the early years of Nazi hunting when Israel's Mossad kidnapped former-Nazi Adolf Eichmann despite Argentine protestations of a violation of its sovereignty. Immediately after World War II, Argentina was a safe haven for former Nazi officials because they brought badly needed capital investment and/or technical expertise.

Carlos Menem was the first head of state of Argentina to make a diplomatic visit to Israel, in 1991. He proposed to mediate between Israel and Syria in their negotiations over the Golan Heights.[2] However, the relations were further tested when Hezbollah was blamed for bombing the Israeli embassy and a Jewish community centre in 1992 and 1994, respectively. Since 2013, roughly 100 Jewish organizations across Argentina have called for the government to repeal its pact with the Islamic Republic of Iran over the AMIA terrorist attacks.[3][4]

In 2012, Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner met an Israeli-Palestinian delegation and announced that Argentina would spearhead the Latin American role in reinvigorating the peace process in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. In 2010, Argentina announced the intention to join Brazil in recognizing an independent Palestinian state, provoking sharp criticism from Israel.[5]

While Argentina has the largest Jewish population in Latin America, there have been various cases of anti-Semitism in Argentina,[6][7][8] such as the desecration of 58 Jewish graves in La Tablada by unknown peoples in 2009,[9] mostly due to negative stereotypes of Jews controlling business interests and dominating the world through capitalism, as well as Israel's affiliation with the United States.[10][11][12]

In September 2017, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid an official visit to Argentina, becoming the first Israeli Prime Minister in office to visit Argentina and Latin America.[13]

Resident diplomatic missions

Former Israeli embassy in Argentina

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sorpresivo nombramiento al frente de la embajada de Israel
  2. ↑ Reich, Bernard (2008). Historical Dictionary of Israel. United States: Scarecrow Press. p. 52.
  3. ↑ AMIA: la comunidad judía pedirá derogar el acuerdo
  4. ↑ Lev, David (28 January 2013). "Argentine Jews Slam 'Truth Commission' Deal With Iran". Arutz Sheva. Archived from the original on 2013-02-12.
  5. ↑ Akiva Eldar (2012-02-11). "Argentine President calls for regional involvement in Israeli-Palestinian conflict". Haaretz. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  6. ↑ Crece el odio a los judíos en Argentina
  7. ↑ No sé por qué a los judíos nos odian tanto
  8. ↑ Jews in S. America Increasingly Uneasy
  9. ↑ ¿Crece el antisemitismo en Argentina?
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ "Anti-Semitic violence stirs concern in Argentina". CNN. 18 May 2009.
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ Netanyahu Touches Down in Argentina for 'Historic' Latin America Visit
  14. ↑ Embassy of Argentina in Tel-Aviv (in Spanish)
  15. ↑ Embassy of Israel in Buenos Aires (in Spanish)
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