Yesha Council Head Meets Argentine President Milei to Discuss UK Policies
Binyamin Regional Council head Yisrael Gantz met with Argentine President Javier Milei to discuss Judea and Samaria and the Falkland Islands, sharply criticizing British sanctions.
Yisrael Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, met with Argentine President Javier Milei at his official residence during a historic diplomatic tour of South America. This marked the third meeting between the two and the first held at the presidential residence, facilitated by Rabbi Richard Kaufman, a personal friend of Milei.
Discussions during the meeting focused on the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas, and Judea and Samaria. Gantz strongly criticized British policies, stating that the days of the White Paper are over. He called on the United Kingdom to end its presence in the Malvinas and to lift what he termed shameful sanctions on Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.
"A country that holds islands halfway across the world from its borders seeks to punish Jews building homes in the land of their ancestors," Gantz declared, denouncing British hypocrisy regarding the settlements and the disputed islands.
The sanctions referenced by Gantz were announced in September by British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, imposing import bans on goods from Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria alongside targeted measures against settlers. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced counter-measures against London, describing the British decision as a hostile step.
While President Milei remains one of Israel's most vocal global supporters, the Falkland Islands dispute has introduced diplomatic friction. The Argentine government recently announced plans to file criminal complaints against the Israeli energy firm Navitas Petroleum over offshore drilling near the islands. Israel's official stance continues to urge direct negotiations between Argentina and Britain over sovereignty.
