Argentina’s Milei launches $1 million Isaac Accords initiative to strengthen Israel–Latin America ties

Earlier this year, Milei was awarded the $1 million Genesis Prize in recognition of his unwavering support for Israel and his commitment to Jewish values during a diplomatic visit to the Jewish state.

By Ailin Vilches Arguello, The Algemeiner

Argentine President Javier Milei has helped to launch a $1 million initiative, the American Friends of the Isaac Accords (AFOIA), aimed at deepening diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between Israel and Latin American countries.

On Tuesday, the Genesis Prize Foundation introduced the Isaac Accords, a new project aimed at fostering closer cooperation between Latin American governments and Israel while tackling antisemitism and terrorism.

Milei’s effort is modeled after the Abraham Accords — a series of historic US-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab countries.

“The 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,” Stan Polovets, co-founder and chairman of the Genesis Prize Foundation, said in a statement.

“AFOIA is a vehicle to promote Milei’s 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,” he continued.

Earlier this year, Milei was awarded the $1 million Genesis Prize in recognition of his unwavering support for Israel and his commitment to Jewish values during a diplomatic visit to the Jewish state.

A nonprofit organization based in New York, AFOIA will collaborate with local partner groups to promote cooperation in sectors such as water technology, agriculture, cyber defense, fintech, healthcare, and energy. It will initially focus its efforts on Uruguay, Panama, and Costa Rica.

The Genesis Prize Foundation announced it will partner with organizations such as StandWithUs, the Israel Allies Foundation, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, and Yalla Israel to support the launch of Milei’s initiative.

AFOIA’s first programs will focus on connecting Latin American students and public officials with Israeli innovations, strengthening pro-Israel advocacy networks, training emergency medical teams in Costa Rica, and supporting Christian leaders who foster connections with Israel.

The initiative will also aim to encourage partner countries to move their embassies to Jerusalem, formally recognize Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations, and shift longstanding anti-Israel voting patterns at the United Nations.

Less than a year after the Hamas-led invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Argentina became the first Latin American country to designate the Palestinian Islamist group as a terrorist organization, with Paraguay following suit earlier this year.

Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, praised Milei’s latest initiative as “highly admirable” and commended the support provided by the Genesis Prize Foundation.

“The establishment of a Latin America–Israel alliance rooted in shared values and mutual benefit is long overdue,” the Israeli ambassador said in a statement.

“I am pleased to see the Isaac Accords initiative get off the ground and thank President Milei for setting an example for his neighbors in the region,” he continued.