On February 7, the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) President Alexander Mashkevich was decorated with the highest public award of the Herzliya Conference — the Herzl Award, for his outstanding contribution to the development of Jewish life in the Diaspora and his full support of the Jewish state.

The Herzliya Conference is the most authoritative forum on strategic issues relating to the existence of a Jewish State.  The Forum annually brings together leading political scientists, authoritative experts in security, active politicians, public figures, and leaders of world Jewish organizations.

The ceremony took place during the 11th Conference in Herzliya. When presenting the award to the EAJC President, Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure Binyamin Ben-Eliezer emphasized that it is more than just a reward. "Alexander Mashkevich is a man who does not wait for the question: "What can I do to the Jews and Israel?" but who instead first asks the question "What else can I do" himself." The minister said.

Alexander Mashkevich said in his response, "I accept this award not as a recognition of my personal merit. It is a sign of gratitude to the two million Jews from 25 countries who are represented by the EAJC. Wherever they live, they hold allegiance to Israel and the Jewish identity."

Mashkevich urged conference participants to support the initiative of convening at an international forum against deligitimization of the State of Israel. "This forum should concentrate the most powerful intellectual resources to develop the most modern and effective responses to the challenges that the Jewish people and the Jewish State face today," he said.

President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder, Head of the Jewish Agency Natan Sharansky, and Executive Vice-President of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish organizations Malcolm Hoenlein participated in the awarding ceremony.