The announcement came during one of the most significant diplomatic ceremonies between Israel and Latin America in decades — and for Jewish travelers, the headline is this: direct flights between Tel Aviv and Buenos Aires are finally happening.
Argentine President Javier Milei arrived in Israel on Sunday — the week of Israeli Independence Day (which begins Tuesday night) — for a visit packed with historic moments. He formally opened Argentina’s embassy in Jerusalem, signed a series of agreements with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and together the two leaders unveiled the Isaac Accords, a sweeping new diplomatic framework modeled on the Abraham Accords and aimed at deepening cooperation between Israel and like-minded nations across the Western Hemisphere.
Announced alongside the Accords: EL AL will launch nonstop service between Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) and Buenos Aires (EZE), with flights expected to begin in December 2026. Milei himself named December at the press conference. The Israeli government approved a special budget to support the route.
The Isaac Accords: What They Are
The Isaac Accords — conceived by Milei and named as a nod to the children of Abraham — establish a strategic framework for cooperation among Argentina, Israel, and other Western Hemisphere nations that share what the joint statement calls “the values of freedom and democracy.” The Accords focus on coordinating against terrorist organizations (with particular attention to Iran’s expanding presence in the Western Hemisphere), combating antisemitism and drug trafficking, aligning positions in international forums, and expanding cooperation in innovation, technology, and trade.
Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and possibly El Salvador are expected to join the framework. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee was present at the ceremony, underscoring American backing for the initiative.
Argentina’s connection to these issues is personal and painful. The country was the target of two devastating Iran-backed terrorist attacks: the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, and the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center — the deadliest terrorist attack in Argentine history. Milei invoked both at the ceremony. “Argentina was the victim of cowardly terrorist attacks on the AMIA and on the Embassy of Israel, both instigated by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said. “To this day, we still demand justice.”
Netanyahu and Milei also signed memoranda of understanding on defense cooperation and on artificial intelligence, with the AI agreement outlining joint work between Israel’s National AI Headquarters and Argentina’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry.
Milei was honored to light a torch at the rehearsal for Israel’s Independence Day torch-lighting ceremony — chosen in recognition of his government’s designation of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Hezbollah, and Hamas as terrorist organizations, his advocacy against antisemitism in international forums, and his efforts on behalf of the hostages held by Hamas.
The Flight: What We Know
EL AL will operate the Tel Aviv-Buenos Aires route twice weekly using its Dreamliner aircraft, offering three classes of service — Economy, Premium, and Business. Flight time is approximately 16.5 hours outbound from Israel and 15.5 hours on the return. At over 12,000 kilometers, this will be the longest route in EL AL’s history.
Ticket sales are expected to open in May. Through a codeshare partnership with Aerolíneas Argentinas, EL AL will also offer onward connections to other South American destinations, as well as connections via European gateways.
EL AL Chairman Amikam Ben Zvi, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich all spoke at the announcement. “The direct route to Argentina is a strategic move that strengthens Israel’s connection to the world and expands our aviation map to new continents,” Regev said.
EL AL last flew to South America with a short-lived São Paulo route that ended in 2011. Buenos Aires will be the airline’s first South American destination in over 15 years.
What This Means for Kosher Travelers
Argentina is home to the largest Jewish community in Latin America — somewhere between 175,000 and 250,000 Jews, the vast majority concentrated in Buenos Aires. Until now, it held the distinction of being the largest Jewish community in the world without a direct flight to Israel.
For kosher travelers, Buenos Aires is genuinely one of the best destinations in the Western Hemisphere. The city has over 40 kosher restaurants and shops, 15 synagogues, five mikvahs, and a Chabad presence across more than 50 locations throughout the country. Jewish life centers around the neighborhoods of Once, Abasto, Villa Crespo (nicknamed “Villa Kreplaj”), Belgrano, and Recoleta.
Buenos Aires is also home to the only kosher McDonald’s outside of Israel, at the Abasto Shopping Mall — and the Argentine kosher steak scene, featuring grass-fed beef under hashgacha, is something you simply can’t replicate anywhere else.
We have a full kosher guide to Buenos Aires at YeahThatsKosher.com. Download the KosherNearMe app at YeahThatsKosher.com/app to find kosher restaurants in Buenos Aires and around the world.
Sources
- Jerusalem Post: Netanyahu meets with Milei, Isaac Accords signing ceremony
- Times of Israel: Netanyahu, Milei launch Isaac Accords
- Ynet: Netanyahu, Milei sign deals, unveil Isaac Accords
- JNS: EL AL to launch direct flights to Argentina this fall
- PBS NewsHour: Milei launches initiative to boost Israel-Latin America ties
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