What You Need to Know:
Javier Milei, Argentina’s self-professed anarcho-capitalist leader who came to power in December of 2023, is set to arrive in Tel Aviv on Tuesday for the first bilateral trip of his Presidency.
— Oficina del Presidente (@OPRArgentina) February 5, 2024
According to the Buenos Aires Times, Milei will visit the Wailing Wall before speaking with President Issac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cabinet.
Milei has previously expressed his interest in Judaism and will be traveling with a Rabbi he intends to position as Argentina’s Ambassador to Israel.
Additionally, Milei’s warm stance towards Israel sets him apart from many South American leaders, specifically Venezuela and Colombia who have expressed their unconditional support for Palestine.
Following his Israel trip, Milei intends to visit Italy to meet with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Pope, whom he once called a ‘filthy leftist’ and the Devil’s representative on earth.
The Details:
The trips coincide with a period of social unrest in Argentina, as riot police fired rubber bullets at civilians protesting against Milei’s “Omnibus Reform Bill”, which was partly approved by Congress in Buenos Aires on Friday.
??#Argentina Protests in Buenos Aires gain momentum.
Demonstrations against the economic reforms of the new Argentine president continue. During the days of protest, the police have already used tear gas, and videos continue to be published on social networks showing the scale pic.twitter.com/zhvIg8sPHQ
— deepankarthish (@deepankarthishb) February 4, 2024
The Bill seeks to deregulate the economy, privatize state entities, extend Presidential legislative powers, and implement measures to reduce state subsidies, as well as limit gatherings.
The lower house is set to debate the Bill’s 382 individual articles on Tuesday, before it moves to the Senate for final approval.
With the nation currently experiencing inflation over 200%, Milei said in a social media statement, “History will judge whether you act in favor of Argentines, or in favor of continuing to impoverish the country.”