U.S. president Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club on December 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida. © Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to award the Israel Prize, the highest civilian honour in the country, US president Donald Trump – for the first time this award will be awarded to a non-Israeli citizen or head of state.
Speaking on Monday after a gathering at Trump hotel Mar-a-Lago, Florida, Netanjahu said that this decision reflected ‘great moods’ in Israel regarding the support of the president of the United States for the nation.
This announcement breaks with the 72-year tradition of honouring Israeli citizens for outstanding achievements and follows the exclusion of Trump from the list of candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize in October.
"President Trump has broken so many conventions" – noted Netanjah, adding that Israel had so decided "also break the convention".
Trump, a close ally of Netanjah and a staunch supporter of Israel, called the prize "surprising and highly appreciated."
Although the Israel Prize usually requires winners of citizenship or permanent residence in Israel for at least 3 years before the nomination, there is an exception for those who have contributed "a peculiar contribution to the destiny of the judaic people," As Jerusalem Post reports.
In October Netanjahu named Trump "Israel's top friend in history" After Hamas freed the last 20 surviving hostages taken during the attacks of October 7, 2023, as part of a peace agreement in the Gaza Strip, to which the American leader and his squad led.
Before Monday's gathering with Netanjahu Trump stated that "nearly all hostage was released due to my efforts... no of them were freed during Biden's reignIt’s okay. ”
However, 107 hostages were freed in 2023 erstwhile the president was Joe Biden and another 33 returned in early 2025 by an agreement negotiated before the end of Biden's word of office.
In various speeches and interviews Trump claimed that "has prevented 8 wars", positioning as an exceptionally capable individual of bringing order to global conflicts through his personality and negotiating skills.
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/news/630236-netanyahu-trump-state-prize/