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<\/a><\/p>\nPresident of Argentina Javier Milei poses holding the Genesis Prize with Stan Polovets and Israeli President Isaac Herzog during the Genesis Prize ceremony at The Museum of Tolerance on June 12, 2025 in Jerusalem, Israel. (Lior Mizrahi\/Getty Images for Genesis Prize Foundation)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Conceived by Milei, \u201cAmerican Friends of the Isaac Accords\u201d takes its name and inspiration from the Abraham Accords, the series of normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations.<\/p>\n
Milei was the first non-Jew and first head of state to receive the prize in January for his staunch support for Israel and efforts to improve Argentine-Israeli relations. At the time, he said he would donate his winnings to \u201ccauses that support freedom and the fight against antisemitism.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI hold deep admiration for Israel \u2014 its history, its people, and its unwavering spirit,\u201d said Milei during his acceptance speech for the Genesis Prize. \u201cI am honored that the Genesis Prize Foundation has chosen to recognize our country\u2019s strong relationship with Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n
The \u201cIsaac Accords\u201d aim to improve \u201cdiplomatic, economic and cultural cooperation\u201d between Israel and Latin American countries, according to the Genesis Prize.<\/p>\n
The initiative comes as some Latin American countries, including Colombia, Bolivia and Chile, have downgraded their diplomatic ties with Israel over the ongoing war in Gaza. Milei\u2019s staunch support for Israel has positioned him as a rare bridge on a continent with scarce diplomatic backing for Israel.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe creation of AFOIA was inspired by President Milei, who received the Genesis Prize for his steadfast support of Israel during one of the most challenging periods in its history,\u201d said Stan Polovets, the co-founder and chairman of the Genesis Prize Foundation, in a statement. \u201cAFOIA is a vehicle to promote Milei\u2019s bold vision and encourage other Latin American leaders to stand with Israel, confront antisemitism, and reject the ideologies of terror that threaten our shared values and freedoms.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Genesis Prize, founded in 2012 with an endowment from five Russian Jewish businessmen, has been bestowed on a diverse range of recipients,including Barbra Streisand, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, the actor Michael Douglas and the Israeli politician and human rights activist Natan Sharansky. In 2018, prize recipient Natalie Portman refused to attend the award ceremony in Israel, saying at the time that she did not want \u201cto appear as endorsing Benjamin Netanyahu, who was to be giving a speech at the ceremony.\u201d<\/p>\n
In announcing his selection in January, the prize said Milei \u201cunequivocally supported the Jewish people and their state.\u201d Milei was raised Catholic but has said he is drawn to Judaism, at one point saying he intends to convert once he leaves office.<\/p>\n
The new NGO is set to launch projects aimed at improving relations with Israel first in Uruguay, Panama, and Costa Rica, and will expand its efforts in 2026 to Brazil, Colombia, and Chile.<\/p>\n
Initial grant recipients of AFOIA include a host of pro-Israel nonprofits and advocacy groups already established in Latin America, including the ILAN Israel Innovation Network, StandWithUs, Israel Allies Foundation, Rambam Health Care Campus, The Philos Project and Yalla Israel.<\/p>\n
AFOIA will also aim to strengthen Israel\u2019s standing within the United Nations, where some European countries have announced plans to recognize Palestinian statehood this fall.<\/p>\n
The NGO will aim to \u201cencourage\u201d the governments of Costa Rica, Panama and Uruguay to relocate their embassies in Israel to Jerusalem, designate Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations, and \u201creverse decades-old records of anti-Israel votes in the UN,\u201d according to the Genesis Prize.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the hostility toward the Jewish state from some nations in the region, support of Israel by Latin American countries which are now on the sidelines is very important,\u201d said Israel\u2019s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, in a statement. \u201cPresident Milei\u2019s vision for Isaac Accords is highly admirable, as is the practical support provided by The Genesis Prize Foundation and AFOIA.\u201d<\/p>\n