Argentina’s President Javier Milei attends a commemoration event ahead of the anniversary of the 1994 bombing attack on the Argentine Israeli Mutual Association (AMIA) community center, marking the 30th anniversary of the attack, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 17, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Martin Cassarini

Argentine President Javier Milei is set to receive the prestigious $1 million Genesis Prize during his visit to Israel next month, honoring his strong advocacy for the Jewish state and commitment to Jewish values.

After postponing a planned visit in March, Milei is now scheduled to receive the award during a June 11 ceremony at Israel’s parliament, known as the Knesset, where he will also deliver a formal address.

During his visit, he is expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Jewish state to strengthen cooperation against terrorism and antisemitism. He is also scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a press release earlier this year, The Genesis Prize Foundation announced Milei as the 2025 Genesis Prize Laureate, recognizing what the organization described as his unwavering support for Israel, dedication to democratic values, and resolute fight against terrorism and antisemitism.

“The Prize Selection Committee unanimously chose Milei — the first head of state to receive the award — for his unequivocal and vocal support of Israel during one of the most difficult times since the founding of the Jewish State,” the statement read.

Congratulations to President of Argentina @JMilei, announced today as the 2025 Genesis Prize Laureate. The Prize Selection Committee unanimously chose Milei – the first head of state to receive the award – for his unequivocal and vocal support of Israel during one of the most… pic.twitter.com/baY24lL5Yh

— The Genesis Prize (@TheGenesisPrize) January 14, 2025

Established in 2013, the annual $1 million prize — dubbed the “Jewish Nobel” by TIME magazine — honors individuals “for their outstanding professional achievements, contribution to humanity, and deep commitment to Jewish values.”

“President Milei is a true hero of the Jewish people,” Stan Polovets, co-founder and chairman of The Genesis Prize Foundation, said in a statement. “Unlike leaders of many other countries around the world who either remained quiet, pressured and — in some cases — sanctioned Israel, President Milei has unequivocally supported the Jewish people and their state.”

“This award reflects Israel’s heartfelt appreciation for the president and the people of Argentina. A friend in need is a friend indeed,” he continued.

Past winners include director Steven Spielberg, the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, actress Natalie Portman, the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and violinist Itzhak Perlman.

Milei announced he will donate the prize money to support a new initiative dedicated to deepening diplomatic ties between Israel and Latin American nations and tackling antisemitism throughout the region.

“I am deeply honored to receive the Genesis Prize,” Milei said in a statement. “I will donate [the prize] to causes that support freedom and the fight against antisemitism, both in Argentina and around the world.”

“I have deep admiration for Israel, its history, and its people. The Jewish people have shown throughout their history that resilience and the defense of freedom are essential to overcoming any challenge,” the South America leader continued. “This spirit is a cornerstone of the relationship between Argentina and Israel, and I will work to further strengthen our ties.”

Since taking office over a year ago, Milei has been one of Israel’s most vocal supporters, strengthening bilateral relations to unprecedented levels and in the process breaking with decades of Argentine foreign policy tradition to firmly align with Jerusalem and Washington.

He is being recognized not only for reversing Argentina’s decades-long pattern of anti-Israel votes at the United Nations, but also for his efforts to combat terrorism. These include the designation of Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations and the reopening of investigations into the 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy and the 1994 terrorist attack on the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.

Less than a year after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, onslaught in Israel, Milei’s administration designated the Palestinian Islamist group as a terrorist organization — making Argentina the first Latin American country to do so — with Paraguay joining the effort just last month.

The Argentine president has also activated Interpol red notices in connection with the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires. Last month, the lead prosecutor in the case petitioned Argentina’s federal court to issue national and international arrest warrants for Iran’s so-called “supreme leader,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, over his alleged involvement in the deadly terrorist attack.

In a significant shift from the country’s previous approach to the case, Sebastián Basso — who succeeded former prosecutor Alberto Nisman after his murder in 2015 — argued that Khamenei was directly involved in planning the 1994 AMIA bombing. This was the deadliest terrorist attack in Argentina’s history, in which 85 people were killed and more than 300 wounded.

In February 2024, on his first international trip as president, Milei visited Israel in a show of wartime solidarity and reiterated his pledge to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem.

Earlier this year, more than 30 members of the Argentine Congress signed a Declaration of Solidarity and Friendship with the State of Israel in the Buenos Aires parliament. The declaration emphasized their unwavering support for Israel’s right to exist in peace and security, while also expressing strong backing for the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.