Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introduced on Monday that President Donald Trump will obtain the Israel Prize in 2026, marking the primary time the award shall be bestowed to a international chief.
Trump was knowledgeable he had received the prize throughout a gathering with Netanyahu at his Mar-a–Lago property because the pair mentioned plans to push the ceasefire in Gaza into its second part, a course of that has stalled in current months.
“For the primary time within the historical past of the State of Israel: The Israel Prize shall be awarded to President Trump!,” wrote Israeli Training Minister Yoav Kisch in a publish on X. “This can be a historic choice that expresses recognition of President Trump’s extraordinary contribution and lasting impression on the Jewish individuals in Israel and all over the world.”
On a name with Kisch in the course of the assembly, Trump mentioned the award was a “nice honor,” including that to be the “first one exterior of Israel is actually one thing.”
Whereas the prize has occasionally been awarded to non-Israeli residents in its historical past, together with to Indian conductor Zubin Mehta in 1991, Monday’s announcement marked the primary time {that a} international chief has acquired the accolade.
In accordance with the Jerusalem Publish, the rules for the prize mandate that candidates have to be Israeli residents, except for “candidates for the Israel Prize for Diaspora Jewry and/or for a particular contribution to the Jewish individuals.” Mehta, for instance, was music director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Talking beside Trump on Monday at a press convention in Florida amid negotiations for the second part of the Gaza ceasefire deal, Netanyahu mentioned that Trump would obtain the award for his “large contributions to Israel and the Jewish individuals.”
“President Trump has damaged so many conventions to the shock of individuals, after which they determine, oh, properly, perhaps , he was proper in any case,” mentioned Netanyahu. “So we determined to interrupt a conference to or create a brand new one, and that’s to award the Israel Prize, which, in virtually our 80 years, we’ve by no means awarded it to a non-Israeli, and we’re going to award it this 12 months to President Trump.”
Netanyahu added that the award “displays the overwhelming sentiment of Israelis throughout the spectrum.”
“They admire what you’ve accomplished to assist Israel and to assist our widespread battle in opposition to the terrorists and people who would destroy our civilization,” continued Netanyahu.
Trump has made no secret of coveting and appreciating prizes, having continuously mentioned that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Netanyahu was among the many world leaders, together with officers from Pakistan and Cambodia, who nominated Trump for the Nobel. Earlier this month, the worldwide soccer federation FIFA awarded Trump its inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize.”
