Israel hints at 'recognising Falkland Islands as Argentinian' in revenge for Keir Starmer welcoming Palestinian state
GB NEWS

The son of Benjamin Netanyahu made the astonishing claim on social media
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Israel should recognise the Falkland Islands as Argentinian after Sir Keir Starmer decided to recognise Palestine, Benjamin Netanyahu’s son has claimed.
Yair Netanyahu made the claim on social media just days after the British Prime Minister's announcement sparked fury from Israeli officials.
He wrote on social media: "I recognise the Malvinas Islands as part of Argentina!"
The statement was met with much praise from supporters of Argentinian President Javier Milei.
Argentina's President Javier Milei has long claimed over the Falklands
|REUTERS
Agustín Romo, head of President Milei's party bloc in Buenos Aires, thanked Yair, saying : "The son of the Prime Minister of Israel announces he recognizes the Malvinas as Argentine. Thank you, Yair."
Meanwhile, Nahuel Sotelo, secretary of Worship in Javier Milei’s government, described the comment as "historic."
President Milei himself took his chance at the United Nations to reiterate his support for the islands, known as "Islas Malvinas" in Argentina, to be returned under the control of Buenos Aires.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Mr Milei said: "I wish to reiterate our legitimate claim in terms of sovereignty over the Malvinas and the surrounding maritime areas that continue to be illegally occupied.
"In spite of the fact that 80 years have elapsed since the creation of the UN, colonial situations such as this one remain unresolved. For this reason, we call on the United Kingdom to resume bilateral negotiations."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prays with his sons Yair and Avner at the Western Wall
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President Milei also called on residents of the Falklands to "vote with their feet" and join Argentina.
In a 2013 referendum, 99.8 per cent of 1,513 Falklands voters opted to remain a British Overseas Territory, with just three voters disagreeing.
A statement published in 2022 from the local Government read: "Falkland Islanders clearly stated their desire to remain a part of the UK overseas family in the 2013 referendum, when 99.8 percent voted for the Islands to remain a self-governing UK Overseas Territory.
"We remain a diverse, resilient and peaceful community that has prospered over time, thanks to the pioneering efforts of the people who travelled here from across the globe, with some families being able to trace their heritage back nine generations."
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The Falklands has long been a source of contention between the UK and Argentina
|GETTY
The Falklands War began when Argentinian forces seized Port Stanley in a surprise attack in 1982.
Britain dispatched military forces across the globe to reclaim the territory during the 74-day war against General Leopoldo Galtieri's troops.
Over the course of the conflict, 649 Argentinians and 255 Britons were killed.
Israel even supplied Argentina with weapons at the height of the conflict, documents declassified by the Foreign Office in 2016 revealed.
Despite Britain winning the 74-day war, Argentina continues to assert sovereignty over the territory.
While diplomatic relations were restored between London and Buenos Aires in 1989 following a meeting in Madrid, ties have remained strained since.
Under Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who served as President of Argentina from 2007 to 2015, Argentina once again reasserted claim of the islands.
In 2016, then-Prime Minister David Cameron and then-Argentine President Mauricio Macri held a meeting where they agreed to begin a new stage of dialogue between the two countries.
However, a year later, Argentina's senate passed legislation to officially rename the Falklands' capital Port Stanley as Puerto Argentino, with Buenos Aires withdrawing from the 2016 agreement in 2023.
President of Argentina Mauricio Macri and British Prime Minister David Cameron signed the agreement before Argentina backed out in 2023
|GETTY
In recent weeks, Mr Milei has come under pressure as Argentina finds itself once again on an economic precipice.
Treasury Secretary in Washington Scott Bessent said that "all options" were on the table for stabilizing Argentina, including swap lines and direct currency purchases
Markets have been roiled by corruption allegations inside Mr Milei's circle and a larger-than-expected loss in a local election in Buenos Aires.
The announcement from Mr Bessent reflects growing frustration with austerity measures and triggering investor concern over Mr Milei's ability to continue to reshape the economy, with October midterm elections on the horizon.