The Senate unanimously approved the six lists of ambassadors proposed by Javier Milei, including Rabbi Axel Simon Wahnish, spiritual guide of the President and his teacher in the studies of Judaism, who was proposed for the Argentine Embassy in Israel and raised some questions from both Kirchnerism and of the radical senator Martín Lousteau.
In a session that began crossed by the controversy of the increase in allowances, the Chamber endorsed with 67 votes and 5 absent the nominations of Wahnish, of Gerardo Werthein, proposed as ambassador to the United States; Guillermo Nielsen, nominated for Paraguay; Mariano Caucino, for India; Ian Sielecki, for France and Sonia Cavallo, candidate to represent Argentina in the Organization of American States-OAS.
Wahnish's proposal had generated some controversy during the public hearing that was held within the framework of the Agreements commission, especially when Martín Lousteau raised the impact that the possible transfer of the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem - announced by the President - would have. - on the claim of sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands.
The senator and head of the National Committee of the UCR was the first to confirm the support of radicalism for the candidates sent by the Government, but he recalled that there were
"important issues" for which he made some requests for clarifications from the Foreign Ministry. "Some aspects that are very particular and that have to do with the statements of President Milei and the candidate for ambassador of Israel Wahnish that are related to the move of the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem that entail a risk of multiple dimensions and that is recognized by different sectors," said the senator.
In this context, Lousteau pointed out that the move of the Argentine diplomatic representation implies three risks: the Malvinas issue, national security and the situation of the hostages in the hands of Hamas. For this reason, the senator stressed that moving the Embassy against an entire international legal order that does not recommend it is "an additional and unnecessary provocation." It is worth noting that only Honduras, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea and the United States moved their embassies to Jerusalem.
He also mentioned a letter sent by Foreign Minister Diana Mondino, in which she assured that the Government committed that Milei's proposal to move the Argentine embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem will not harm the national claim to sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands.
Previously, Nora Giménez, from Unión por la Patria, conveyed that although it is the President's responsibility to appoint the ambassador to Israel and that it is necessary to respect the popular will, she conveyed "her concerns and concerns regarding the direction that is being taken for our foreign policy.” And at this point, the senator from Salta pointed out that Milei's declaration of moving the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem "comes to break Argentina's position of neutrality," but she also warned that the Government's foreign policy is "high risk".
Meanwhile, José Mayans spoke about the crisis in the Middle East, he spoke about the recent escalation after Iran's attack on Israel. "There is fear of the reaction and disagreement that can produce a disaster because there is no other scheme than neutrality and the call for peace. A war that can take on a disproportionate character," warned the man from Formosa, who highlighted his differences with the President in politics. abroad.
In this context, the head of the Peronist caucus expressed his rejection of Hezbollah's operation in Israeli territory "attacking young people who were dancing, taking hostages, which was the beginning of the conflict." However, it must be explained that the offensive was carried out by the Palestinian group Hamas. Mayans also rejected Israel's response, calling it "unconscionable." "One sees that he is demonstrating military power like the Nazis did. It was an extreme response, but the worst of all was blocking humanitarian assistance and killing people from the United Nations who were going to help a people that was practically devastated," he added. .
The senator also made it clear that his bloc does not share the alignment that President Milei has with NATO. At this point he recalled that Argentina "already voted in favor of gun freedom."
The information about this section of the session was given by Senator Cristina López (Tierra del Fuego), who left the room at the time of the vote on the list of the future Argentine ambassador to Israel. The senator made this gesture in rejection of the intention to move the embassy to Jerusalem because she understands that "this decision impacts and harms the national claim over the Malvinas and South Atlantic islands."