Argentina considers moving its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
In Jerusalem, which both Israelis and Palestinians seek to be recognized as their capital, it is not common to find embassies from other countries, although there are some. Argentina is the most recent case of a country seeking to change its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Javier Milei, President-Elect of Argentina, has expressed his intention to move the nation’s embassy to Jerusalem, citing Israel as a strong ally. This possible move is reminiscent of President Donald Trump’s similar promises during his 2016 presidential campaign, which were realized in 2018.
The movement of embassies to Jerusalem is highly controversial due to ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, and support for a potential two-state solution. While Israel has recognized Jerusalem as its capital since 1950, many international embassies remain in Tel Aviv. The United States was the first country to recognize Israel as a state in 1948 and also recognized Jerusalem as its capital in 2017, which sparked confrontations and protests in Gaza and the West Bank, in addition to rejection by multiple Islamic leaders.
Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future state, a territory that Israel has occupied since the Six-Day War of 1967. This move is especially controversial in the current context, as a war is taking place between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian territory of Gaza.
Despite the controversy, Milei’s intention to move the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem has been supported by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Argentina has not yet made an official announcement or response to these reports.
The move of Argentine embassy reflects the larger issue of international recognition and diplomatic presence in Jerusalem. While Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, and the USA have embassies in Jerusalem, the vast majority of countries continue to maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.