Netanyahu Reportedly Backs Argentina in Falklands Dispute With UK

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly instructed Israel's diplomatic corps to support Argentina in the dispute over the Falkland Islands, according to a report in the British newspaper The Telegraph. This alleged shift in policy comes after Britain intensified sanctions against Israeli settlements last month.

Sources cited by The Telegraph indicated that Israel's acknowledgment of Argentina's "historical connection" to the islands represents a significant and unprecedented move. An official familiar with the matter stated that the declaration's wording was approved at the highest levels of the Israeli government and marks the first time Israel has intervened in this conflict.

The report suggests this decision could be a strategic alignment with right-leaning governments in South and Central America, as traditional European allies have become increasingly critical of Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank. The UK's recognition of a Palestinian state and its September sanctions have reportedly strained UK-Israel relations to a decades-long low.

However, the article notes complex technical reasons why Israel might avoid fully backing Argentina's sovereignty claim. Crucial bilateral intelligence relations, including indirect access to the "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance via the UK, are at stake. Additionally, Israeli companies are partners with British corporations in the significant "Sea Lion" oil exploration project near the Falklands.

At the UN, British representative Kate Foster firmly stated that the United Kingdom has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falklands, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands, adding that no dialogue on sovereignty is possible without the consent of the islanders. A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in London vehemently denied the report, stating, "There is no such directive." The British Foreign Office declined to comment on the report.