Netanyahu Directs Diplomats to Back Argentina in Falklands Dispute

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed diplomats to shift Israel's official stance and support Argentina's call for direct talks with Britain regarding the future of the Falkland Islands. This directive, reported by the British newspaper The Telegraph, follows recent sanctions imposed by Britain on West Bank settlements. Israeli diplomats have been told to advocate for negotiations between the UK and Argentina on the islands' status and to acknowledge Argentina's "historical relationship" with the territory. While this does not constitute an endorsement of Argentina's sovereignty claim, it signifies a further deterioration in Israeli-British relations.

The Falklands, known as the Malvinas Islands in Argentina, have been a subject of dispute between the two nations for nearly two centuries. Argentina has claimed sovereignty over the archipelago since the early 19th century, shortly after its independence from Spain. Britain established control in 1833, making the islands a British Overseas Territory with a predominantly British population. The conflict escalated in April 1982 when Argentina invaded the islands, leading to the Falklands War, which concluded 74 days later with an Argentine defeat. Despite a 2013 referendum where 99.8% of islanders voted to remain under British rule, Argentina continues to assert its sovereignty claims diplomatically.