An extremist Israeli minister is urging Benjamin Netanyahu to recognize the Falkland Islands as “occupied Argentine territory”

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday to publicly recognize the Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas in Argentina, as “occupied Argentine territory.” The islands have been administered by the United Kingdom since 1833, but Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over the South Atlantic archipelago.

In a post on the X platform, Ben Gvir accused Britain of occupying the territory “violently,” drilling for oil and “stealing” Argentina’s resources. The ultranationalist minister urged Netanyahu to recognize Argentine sovereignty and impose sanctions on the United Kingdom for as long as the occupation continues.

The statements were made amid a diplomatic dispute over hydrocarbon extraction in the area. The Argentine government announced that it would file a criminal complaint against subsidiaries of the Israeli company Navitas, accused of operating without authorization from Buenos Aires.

Ben Gvir’s position contrasts with his support for Israeli control over the West Bank, a territory considered occupied by the international community. The Falkland Islands were the site of the 1982 war between Argentina and the United Kingdom, which ended in a British victory.

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