Argentine far-right candidate Milei skips memorial event repudiating Hamas attack and calling for release of hostages
The Delegation of Argentine Israeli Associations (DAIA) - Argentina's largest Jewish federation - held its annual meeting in Buenos Aires on Monday night - which focused on repudiating Hamas terrorism, demanding the release of those kidnapped and supporting the State of Israel in the war against the terrorist group.
Home to Latin America's largest Jewish community, some 21 Argentine nationals are among the over 200 currently held as hostages amid the ongoing Israeli counterattack in Gaza.
The event was attended by an array of judicial, political, business, cultural and union leaders, as well as ambassadors - including Israel's Galit Ronen, 58, and Marc Stanley, 66, of the United States.
The most notable absence, however, was that of far-right presidential candidate Javier Milei.
Milei, 53, will be competing against Economy Minister Sergio Massa, 51, who represents the ruling, center-left Front for All Coalition and outstripped Milei by an unexpectedly strong 37% to 30% in the October 22nd general election.
Polls differ as to which candidate has the advantage - although most agree that the November 19th runoff will be close.
Far-right fury
Also in attendance was defeated hard-right candidate Patricia Bullrich, who was eliminated from the runoff after netting 24%. Bullrich, 67, created deep divisions in her coalition after endorsing Milei last week in a deal reportedly brokered by her political boss, former President Mauricio Macri.
She reaped further criticism on Monday by declaring on a right-wing cable news channel that she "hopes (Argentina) explodes before" the November 19th runoff.
Massa repudiated the bombastic Bullrich following a meeting with the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA) - the country's top manufacturing lobby - today, noting that "when things explode, those who get hurt are Argentines. The merchants, the workers, lose."
"I have a constructive view and don't think about how to destroy the other in order to win an election."
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Argentine Economy Minister Sergio Massa (center, blue tie) joins an array of Jewish leaders in Argentine politics, culture, business and labor in repudiating the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel, as well as calling for the release of the over 200 hostages still held by Hamas - including 21 Argentine nationals.
Far-right, opposition candidate Javier Milei skipped the event.
Milei - who enjoys the support of figures such as Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and former U.S. President Donald Trump - is staunchly supported by apologists of the country's last dictatorship.
Jews accounted for 13% of the 8,960 reported to have "disappeared" during the fascist Videla regime according to a 1984 report.
