Netanyahu Orders Shift in Israel's Falklands Stance Amid UK Sanctions Row

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed Israeli diplomats to alter the country's official position on the Falkland Islands, aligning with Argentina's call for direct talks regarding the islands' future. This decision follows British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's recent imposition of economic sanctions on settlements in Judea and Samaria. While not a full endorsement of Argentina's sovereignty claims, the shift raises concerns that Israel might fully back Buenos Aires if further sanctions are applied to the settlements. The sanctions, announced by Miliband who accused Israel of "ethnic cleansing," previously triggered a diplomatic crisis, leading to the downgrading of the British Consulate in Jerusalem and the expulsion of most of its staff. The dispute now appears to extend to the Falklands issue. This development occurs as Argentina renews its diplomatic efforts to advance its claim over the islands, following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump in September that suggested he might not support Britain in a future conflict over the matter.