Argentina's President Javier Milei to Receive $1M Genesis Prize in Israel
The foundation noted that Milei reversed Argentina’s historical pattern of anti-Israel votes at the United Nations, formally designated Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations, and reopened investigations into the 1990s bombings of Jewish and Israeli targets in Buenos Aires.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Argentina’s President Javier Milei is set to arrive in Israel to receive the prestigious $1 million Genesis Prize in a ceremony scheduled for June 11 at the Knesset, where he will also deliver a speech to the Israeli parliament, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.
The Genesis Prize Foundation awarded Milei the honor in January in recognition of his outspoken support for Israel and his efforts to combat antisemitism in Latin America. The foundation noted that Milei reversed Argentina’s historical pattern of anti-Israel votes at the United Nations, formally designated Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations, and reopened investigations into the 1990s bombings of Jewish and Israeli targets in Buenos Aires.
Argentina's president, who postponed a previously planned visit in March, is expected to donate the entire prize sum to fund a new initiative focused on strengthening diplomatic ties between Israel and Latin American countries while fighting antisemitism across the region.
Although Milei has pledged to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem—joining the United States and a few others that officially recognize the disputed city as Israel’s capital—the relocation is not expected to occur during this trip.
Previous Genesis Prize laureates include former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, film director Steven Spielberg, sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor, actor Michael Douglas, and philanthropist Robert Kraft.
Milei’s visit marks a further deepening of Argentina-Israel relations under his administration and reflects a broader geopolitical shift in parts of Latin America toward more overt pro-Israel stances.
Milei’s gesture carries particular weight at a time when antisemitism is surging globally. According to recent reports by Jewish advocacy organizations and monitoring groups, incidents of anti-Semitic hate speech, violence, and harassment have risen sharply since the escalation of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Jewish communities in Europe, North America, and South America have reported increased threats, including attacks on synagogues and Jewish schools, anti-Semitic graffiti, and physical assaults.
Argentina's president's vocal stance in support of Israel and against antisemitism is seen as a bold and symbolic move. For Israel, which has watched many traditional allies waver or grow more critical, especially in multilateral forums like the UN, Milei’s policies mark a significant diplomatic win. His efforts contrast with regional trends in Latin America, where some governments have cooled relations with Israel or taken neutral stances in recent Middle East conflicts.
Moreover, Milei’s administration has taken the unusual step of prioritizing historical accountability by reopening the investigations into the deadly 1992 and 1994 bombings of the Israeli embassy and AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires. These attacks remain painful scars for both Argentine and Israeli societies, and Milei’s willingness to revisit the cases has been hailed by victims’ families and Israeli officials as an act of justice long overdue.
His actions may also influence a broader shift in Latin American diplomacy, signaling to other regional leaders that closer alignment with Israel can coexist with progressive or reformist domestic agendas. At a time when Israeli citizens are facing increased hostility and isolation in parts of the world, Milei’s leadership sends a message of solidarity—and places Argentina as a standout supporter of Israel on the global stage.
