Netanyahu to break convention with state prize for Trump

The US president will be the first non-Israeli to receive the country’s highest civilian honor, breaking decades-old tradition

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to award the Israel Prize, the country’s highest civilian honor, to US President Donald Trump – the first time the accolade will be bestowed upon a non-Israeli or a sitting foreign head of state.

Speaking after a meeting at Trumpэs Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday, Netanyahu said the decision reflects “overwhelming sentiment” in Israel regarding the US president’s support for the nation. The announcement breaks a 72-year tradition of honoring Israeli citizens for excellence and follows Trump’s exclusion from the Nobel Peace Prize shortlist in October.

“President Trump has broken so many conventions,” Netanyahu remarked, adding that Israel had therefore decided to “break a convention, too.”

Trump, a close ally of Netanyahu and staunch supporter of Israel, called the award “surprising and very much appreciated.” While the Israel Prize typically requires recipients to be citizens or residents of Israel for at least three years before nomination, there is an exception for those who have made a “special contribution towards the Jewish people,” according to Jerusalem Post.

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In October, Netanyahu lauded Trump as Israel’s “greatest friend ever” following Hamas’ release of the last 20 surviving hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attacks, as part of a Gaza peace deal facilitated by the US leader and his team.

Ahead of his meeting with Netanyahu on Monday, Trump claimed that “almost every hostage released was due to my efforts… none were released during the Biden administration.” However, 107 hostages were freed in 2023 while Joe Biden was president, with another 33 returned in early 2025 under a deal negotiated before the end of Biden’s term.

In various speeches and interviews, Trump has asserted that he has “stopped eight wars,” positioning himself as uniquely capable of imposing order on global conflicts through his personality and negotiating skills.