June 12, 2025 | Museum of Tolerance, Jerusalem – In a powerful ceremony laden with geopolitical significance, Argentine President Javier Milei received Israel’s prestigious Genesis Prize, cementing his role as one of Israel’s most vocal international allies during a period of escalating diplomatic isolation. The award, often dubbed the “Jewish Nobel,” recognizes Milei’s transformative pro-Israel policies and his visionary “Isaac Accords” initiative to reshape Israel-Latin American relations.
Ceremony of Solidarity
Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Genesis Prize Foundation Chairman Stan Polovets presented the award before a visibly moved audience at Jerusalem’s Museum of Tolerance. The emotional apex came during a live performance of Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend,” which reduced many attendees to tears as it underscored the ceremony’s central theme: combating Israel’s increasing global isolation.
Milei, accepting the honor, and reported as saying, “I feel a vital urge to continue waging the cultural battle against the enemies of freedom in all their forms… Remember you will always find in me an ally of Israel.” Also Quoting Argentine literary giant Jorge Luis Borges, he added: “I am not Jewish, but that does not prevent me from feeling the Jewish people’s history as my own”. He concluded with the Hebrew phrase “Am Yisrael Chai” (The people of Israel live), receiving sustained applause.
Genesis Prize: A Strategic Honor
The $1 million award – which Milei immediately waived for philanthropic purposes – represents several historic firsts:
- First sitting non-Israeli head of state recipient
- First non-Jewish laureate
- First awarded explicitly for geopolitical solidarity with Israel
Previous laureates include Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with all funds traditionally directed to charitable causes generating over $50 million in philanthropic impact since 2014.
The Milei Doctrine: Reshaping Argentina-Israel Ties
Milei’s policies have dramatically reversed decades of Argentine foreign policy:
- Jerusalem Embassy Move: Confirmed plans to relocate Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem in 2026, joining only a handful of countries recognizing it as Israel’s capital.
- UN Voting Shift: Ended Argentina’s pattern of anti-Israel votes at the United Nations.
- Security Cooperation: Signed cybersecurity and counter-terrorism agreements with PM Benjamin Netanyahu, including a “Memorandum of Understanding for Democracy and Freedom” countering Iran’s influence in the 1990s AMIA bombing investigation.
The Isaac Accords: Latin America’s Abrahamic Moment
The entire $1 million prize will seed the “Isaac Accords” initiative – Milei’s ambitious plan to create a Latin American counterpart to the Abraham Accords. This diplomatic framework aims to unite democracies sharing:
- Anti-terrorism commitments
- Pro-innovation economic policies
- Market-oriented democratic values
The Genesis Prize Foundation will partner with major NGOs including StandWithUs, Israel Allies Foundation, and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism to advance the initiative.
Global Reactions and Regional Implications
The award coincides with Milei’s 10-day international tour, including controversial stops:
- Vatican: Secured commitment from Pope Leo XIV (first U.S.-born pontiff) to visit Argentina.
- Spain: Reignited tensions by labeling PM Pedro Sánchez a “crook” and vowing “death to socialism”.
- France: Discussed nuclear cooperation and critical minerals with President Macron.
Regional analysts note Milei’s alignment breaks with Latin America’s traditionally cooler Israel stance. Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish, Argentina’s ambassador to Israel, praised his president: “In every generation, few leaders combine moral clarity, courage to act, and deep faith in God. President Milei is one of them”.
A Diplomatic Lifeline at a Critical Juncture
The ceremony’s emphasis on Israel’s isolation references growing global criticism over the Gaza conflict following the October 2023 Hamas attacks. Milei has notably supported PM Netanyahu’s government more robustly than nearly any world leader during this period.
As Milei returns to Argentina with this singular honor, the world watches whether his “Isaac Accords” can indeed forge a new pro-Israel alliance in America’s southern hemisphere – and redefine Middle East-Latin America relations for a generation.
