Argentine President Javier Milei received the prestigious Genesis Prize in Jerusalem on Thursday, June 12, an honor that comes with a $1 million award and marks his strong support for Israel amid increasing global condemnation of its actions in Gaza.
In a deeply symbolic moment at the ceremony, Milei addressed the audience in Spanish and closed his speech with the Hebrew phrase “Am Yisrael Chai,” meaning “the people of Israel live.” His words drew a rousing standing ovation from the crowd.
A statement from the Genesis Prize Foundation revealed that Milei intends to donate the entire $1 million to launch a diplomatic initiative that aims to bolster Israel’s ties with Latin American countries and combat the growing tide of antisemitism across the region.
According to the foundation, Milei’s project draws inspiration from the Abraham Accords — the U.S.-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations. His proposed initiative, named the Isaac Accords, seeks to replicate that model in Latin America to strengthen Israel’s diplomatic footprint and promote mutual understanding.
Breaking with longstanding Argentine foreign policy, Milei has emerged as one of the most vocal global allies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even as Israel faces rising international isolation for its military operations in Gaza, launched in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks.
Milei has also committed to relocating Argentina’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem — a move that only a handful of nations, including the United States, have taken, recognizing the contested city as Israel’s capital.
Genesis Prize To Fight Antisemitism
The Genesis Prize, often referred to as the “Jewish Nobel Prize,” is awarded annually to individuals of Jewish heritage who have achieved outstanding professional success while upholding Jewish values and contributing meaningfully to humanity. The prize, launched in 2013, includes a $1 million monetary award that recipients traditionally donate to philanthropic causes, amplifying the prize’s global impact.
Founded with a $100 million endowment from five Russian philanthropists, the award is administered by the Genesis Prize Foundation in collaboration with the Office of the Israeli Prime Minister and the Jewish Agency for Israel. Its core mission is to celebrate the global diversity and shared heritage of Jewish people and to strengthen bonds between Israel and the Jewish diaspora.
The award’s recipients have included global luminaries such as former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, actress Natalie Portman, late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (who received a Lifetime Achievement Award), director Steven Spielberg, and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.
In 2025, Javier Milei made history as the first sitting head of state to receive the Genesis Prize. The foundation cited his “unwavering support of Israel during a challenging period” and his launch of the Isaac Accords initiative as reasons for the honor.
The Genesis Prize has also served as a powerful platform to raise awareness and drive action on major issues affecting Jewish communities worldwide — from combating antisemitism to supporting refugees and promoting social justice.
Over the past decade, philanthropic projects funded through the prize have raised more than $50 million and impacted lives in 31 countries, according to the foundation. While the prize has not been without its share of controversy, including some laureates declining to attend ceremonies for political reasons, it remains a beacon of Jewish resilience, pride, and global solidarity.
President Milei’s recognition is being seen as both a diplomatic statement and a reaffirmation of his ideological alignment with Israel, setting a new precedent for Latin American leaders on the world stage.
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