The Argentine government has suspended plans to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as reported by Argentine and Israeli media. However, it has decided on the immediate appointment of a new ambassador, Axel Wahnish, after days of negotiations, approved on Tuesday evening by the Senate Agreements Committee.
Mr. Wahnish’s proposal to the Senate was pending, but several senators from the Radical Civil Union (UCR) and representatives of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA) requested that it be linked to the transfer of the embassy to Jerusalem.
In an exclusive interview with The Jerusalem Post earlier this month, Mr. Wahnish explained that the Argentine president had grown closer to Israel in recent years, choosing the United States and Israel as Argentina’s strategic partners. This was reflected in his initial decision to transfer the embassy to Jerusalem, a decision that is still pending.
However, senators are expressing concern about the transfer of the embassy to Jerusalem, fearing that it would complicate Argentina’s claims over the Falkland Islands, classified as disputed territory by the United Nations.
Argentina’s Foreign Minister, Diana Mondino, has given assurances that the country will not contravene UN resolutions, thus freezing the embassy move.
By considering moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Argentina could be seen as taking a stand in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, since Jerusalem is a city claimed as a capital by both Israel and the Palestinians.
Argentine President Javier Milei announced his intention to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem during his visit to Israel in early February.
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