In the 1950s, what would have come to mind whenever Argentina was mentioned? Probably the Nazis who had found safe haven in the country — there were many of those, including Adolf Eichmann, with his house on Garibaldi Street, for their presence did not trouble Juan Perón. Hence that phrase used jokingly about someone who hadn’t been seen in a while, that “he’s alive and well and living in Argentina.”
Then came another period, in the late 1960s, when Argentina, for many literate Americans, was thought of mainly as the home of the celebrated writer Jorge Luis Borges. And Borges, when he was the Charles Eliot Norton Professor at Harvard in 1967-1968, brought to American consciousnesses, inter alia, the gaucho epic Martin Fierro, the literary figures Victoria and Silvina Ocampo, the poet of Buenos Aires Leopoldo Lugones, and the writer and frequent collaborator of Borges, Adolfo Bioy Casares.
In the late 1970s, Argentina became known for the right-wing army officers — Generals Galtieri and Videla among others — who dealt ruthlessly with left-wing protesters, in what the generals themselves called the “Dirty War,” employing such methods as throwing those leftists out of planes.
Now Argentina is becoming known for its new President, Javier Milei, an unusual figure who turns out to be as much a supporter of Israel as was Borges, who wrote two poems in praise of Israel, including one that celebrated Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War. He has broken most dramatically with Argentina’s past record at times of indifference, and at times hostility, to Israel.
More on President Milei and his new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gerardo Werthein, can be found here: “Historic Torah ceremony sees Argentina’s new foreign minister sworn in,” Jerusalem Post, November 5, 2024:
Gerardo Werthein was sworn in as Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in a ceremony notable for being the first time a government official in Argentina has sworn with an allusion to the Torah according to several Spanish news outlets.
According to Rosario3 and Sobre nosotros the ceremony took place in the Salón Blanco of the Casa Rosada and was led by President Javier Milei, who surprised attendees by departing from the traditional format and including words from the weekly Torah portion, Lech Lecha.
“Mr. Gerardo Werthein, do you swear by God and by the homeland and on the Torah to faithfully and devotedly fulfill the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Religions, to which you have been appointed, and to uphold and enforce, as far as it depends on you, the Constitution of Argentina?” President Milei addressed the new minister according to ellitoral.com, Notigram, El Diario, and Los Andes.
According to reports by ellitoral.com and Notigram, Milei drew an analogy between the tasks that Werthein will have to perform and the journey of Abraham as recounted in “Lech Lecha.” He explained that this Torah portion recounts God’s command to Abraham to leave his home and embark on a journey into the unknown, emphasizing the importance of spreading messages of faith and freedom to the world.
“It’s interesting what it points out. You are being sent signals by the forces of heaven, Gerardo, because it speaks of the beginnings of Abraham’s journeys around the world, spreading the messages of the Creator,” President Milei said.
He added, “God tells him that he will have much influence among the nations of the world, giving him an important responsibility to carry the messages of the Torah, of life and freedom to the whole world. Even Abraham will interact with other nations in this parasha.”
The brief swearing-in ceremony was attended by family members of the new chancellor and cabinet ministers, including Zulema Menem, Miguel Migoya from Globant, and Alejandro Bulgheroni from Pan American Energy. Milei emphasized the importance of this moment for Argentina’s foreign policy and highlighted the strong spiritual symbolism in the diplomacy he aspires to promote.
Werthein is heavily aligned with Milei
Gerardo Werthein, 68 years old, is a businessman with a close connection to the American establishment and a former ambassador to the United States. He took control of Argentine diplomacy after President Milei dismissed Diana Mondino due to her vote in favor of requiring the United States to lift the economic embargo on Cuba at the United Nations.
Werthein’s appointment is seen as a strong signal of alignment with Milei’s foreign policy objectives, which he emphasized during the ceremony….
And that means that Argentina will no longer be in the anti-Israel camp, as it has been for many years. In September Argentina rejected a non-binding UN Resolution calling for Israel to end within a year what the resolution termed its “unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory.” It was only one of 14 countries to vote against the resolution; another 43 abstained. A few days after the vote, Milei spoke at the General Debate of the General Assembly’s 79th session.
He called out the world body for systematically voting against the Jewish state, “the only democracy in the Middle East, which protects liberal democracy,” adding that the United Nations has “simultaneously shown a total inability to respond to the scourge of terrorism.”
Milei is a fervent supporter of Israel who has promised to move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem. In July, Argentina designated Hamas an “international terrorist organization” following the Palestinian group’s Oct. 7 massacre.
Shortly after the dismissal of Diana Mondino [as Argentina’s UN ambassador, she had voted, without authorization, in favor of a resolution to lift the US embargo on Cuba], he declared, “I want to be like Israel and the United States,” reflecting his desire to strengthen ties with these nations. Gerardo Werthein’s appointment and the measures he has taken since assuming office underscore a new direction in Argentina’s foreign policy, rooted in spiritual values and strategic realignment.
Israel now has a friend and ally in South America. Argentina is now a country where the Torah is referred to in a swearing-in ceremony for the Foreign Minister. A country whose president wants Argentina “to be like Israel and the United States.” A country that sides with Israel at the U.N. A country whose President has pledged to move the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Wouldn’t it be nice if Argentina could use its economic and diplomatic clout in South America to push some of those countries to be less hostile to, and more supportive of, the embattled Jewish state?
somehistory says
this Argentian president had some good points to make during his un speech.
It’s wonderful that he believes in the God of Abraham and is encouraging his minister to remember the ‘promises’ to that ancient man of God.
A different Argentina, for sure.
Hugh Fitzgerald says
Here’s a bit more, by Ilan Stavans, on Borges’ philosemiism and his unwavering support for Israel:
Jorge Luis Borges visited Israel twice. The first trip came at the invitation of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. It was in recognition of his philo-Semitism, and, in particular, his positive views on Israel. Borges had been active in Casa Argentina en Israel-Tierra Santa, a project that sought to build an Argentine cultural center in Jerusalem. He also had been the first to write about Israel in the prestigious intellectual magazine Sur in 1958. In the 1970s, in an autobiographical essay published in The New Yorker, Borges stated :Early in 1969, invited by the Israeli government, I spent ten very exciting days in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. I brought home the conviction of having been in the oldest and the youngest of nations, of having come from a very living, vigilant land to a half-asleep nook of the world. Since my Geneva days, I had always been interested in Jewish culture, thinking of it as an integral element of our so-called Western civilization, and during the Israeli-Arab war of a few years back I found myself taking immediate sides. While the outcome was still uncertain, I wrote a poem on the battle. A week later, I wrote another on the victory. Israel was, of course, still an armed camp at the time of my visit. There, along the shores of Galilee, I kept recalling these lines from Shakespeare: Over whose acres walk’d those blessed feet, Which fourteen hundred years ago, were nail’d, For our advantage, on the bitter cross. Actually, there is a total of three poems on Israel in Borges’s collection “In Praise of Darkness” (1969). All were later included in his “Obras Completas” (1994)
somehistory says
thank you, Mr. Fitzgerald, for the extra…interesting and important…facts regarding this wise man.
gravenimage says
+1
Siddi Nasrani says
May The Lord bless you President Milei
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
abu taleb says
Argentina’s economy suddently turns well under Milei from the bad situation during the previous left government era. We see other examples of disaster in Venezuela, Srilanka or Soviet. Or even in the west world like the US under Biden.
It must be a miracle that some people are brain washed to be in love with the left government just like somepeople are brainwashed by Islam. But that is a fact of life.
gravenimage says
Argentina’s Philosemitic and Pro-Israel President
……………………………………
Always glad to hear this. Kudos to President Milei!
࿗Infidel࿘ says
What President Millei achieved in his first few weeks after being elected was impressive: he stabilized the Argentine currency. If he can make Argentina the shining city on the hill of Latin America, hopefully that should inspire others, like Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, Mexico,et al to follow suit
Hopefully, they all stop accepting Arab muslim emigres and instead normalize relations w/ Israel. Including not voting against them at the UN
skeptiker says
Hochachtung und Respekt für Milei. Eine eindrucksvolle Persönlichkeit und ein cooler Typ.
Ralph says
Argentina’s President Milei and our President Trump appear to have a lot in common. All to the good of these respective countries. God bless them both.