Argentina’s President Javier Milei kicked off his high-stakes visit to Israel on Monday night with an emotional, unscripted stop at the Wailing Wall.
Before even checking into his hotel, the "anarcho-capitalist" leader headed to the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City to stand with Jewish faithful and pray for the release of hostages still held in Gaza.
Recognized immediately by worshippers at the Kotel, Milei sparked a frenzy of cheers as he declared his unwavering alliance.
"I will always support the people of Israel with all my heart," he told the crowd through a translator, framing the conflict as a "just cause for the West."
Escorted by his sister, Karina Milei, and Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein, the President recited a chapter from the Book of Psalms before leaving a haunting message in the visitors' book: “Freedom for Zion.”
Milei’s itinerary for the next three days is packed with symbolic and political milestones.
He is set to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to sign a historic Memorandum of Understanding "for democracy and freedom."
Perhaps most notably, Milei will become the first non-Jewish head of state to receive the Genesis Foundation Prize, often called the "Jewish Nobel Prize" during a special session of the Knesset.
The visit isn't just about politics; it’s deeply personal.
On Wednesday, Milei will meet with the families of Argentine-Israeli citizens kidnapped during the October 7, 2023 attacks.
He also plans to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to reaffirm his stance that international terrorism must be treated with the same legal severity as state-sponsored atrocities.
This trip marks a pivotal moment for Milei as he positions Argentina as Israel’s fiercest ally in Latin America.