An Israeli-American Republican figure has urged US President Donald Trump to reconsider Washington’s position on the Falkland Islands after Argentina’s footballers used their World Cup victory over England to revive the country’s claim of sovereignty over the archipelago.
Marc Zell, chairman of Republicans Overseas Israel, seized on Argentina’s 2-1 semi-final win in Atlanta after players displayed a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” which translates to “The Malvinas are Argentine”.
Fifa, the world football tournament organiser, is reviewing the incident under rules barring political messages at matches.
Zell tied the football stunt to Britain’s refusal to join the US-Israeli war on Iran, which he called “a dastardly betrayal”, and suggested treating the Falkland Islands as leverage to punish London for refusing to follow Washington and Israel into the conflict.
“The Trump Administration should reconsider US policy on the Falklands/Malvinas in light of Argentina’s readiness to stand with America – while Britain refused to do the same in the Strait of Hormuz,” said Zell.
“FIFA may fine them. The British press is outraged. But Argentina has been a steadfast friend of the United States and of Israel – and friends deserve to be heard,” he added.
“The Malvinas question deserves a serious answer from Washington.”
Argentina’s strongly pro-Israel president, Javier Milei, amplified Zell’s message.
Milei has made support for Israel a central pillar of his foreign policy, backed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu throughout the Gaza genocide, and publicly considered converting to Judaism. He has also pledged to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem.
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“While some are busy throwing tantrums befitting a terminally mononeuronal teenager, we, through the diplomatic route, are getting closer every day to the recovery of the Malvinas Islands, Georgias, and South Sandwich Islands, and the surrounding maritime space,” Milei said in response.
Zell replied: “Thank you to President Javier Milei for sharing my thoughts on the Malvinas/Falklands Islands.”
Britain’s government responded after the banner was unfurled at the match: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are.”
Argentina invaded the islands under a military dictatorship in 1982, triggering a 74-day war that killed 649 Argentine troops, 255 British soldiers and three islanders.
Britain first claimed the islands as a UK possession when a British ship landed on the Falklands in 1765, later reasserting its claim of sovereignty in 1833, but this has long been disputed by Argentina.
In a 2013 referendum, 99.8 percent of Falklands voters chose to remain a British overseas territory.
