Florida [US], December 30 (HBTV): US President Donald Trump will be awarded Israel’s highest civilian honour, the Israel Prize for Peace, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday following a bilateral meeting between the two leaders in Florida, CNN reported.
Netanyahu said the Israeli government has decided to confer the Israel Prize for Peace on Trump, marking the first time in 80 years that the award will be given to a non-Israeli citizen and the first time the Peace category has been conferred.
The announcement was made by Netanyahu during a joint press briefing with Trump after their talks at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Trump responded by calling the honour unexpected and appreciated.
‘President Trump has broken so many conventions to surprise people, so we decided to break a convention or create a new one, that is to award the Israel Prize, which in 80 years we have never awarded to a non-Israeli, to President Trump. This was announced formally over lunch by our Minister of Education that President Donald J Trump should be awarded this prize for his immense contribution to the Israeli and the Jewish people,’ Netanyahu said.
‘This reflects the overwhelming sentiment of Israelis across the spectrum. They appreciate what you have done to help Israel and our common battle against the terrorists,’ he added.
Trump responded, saying the award was ‘really surprising and very much appreciated’.
The Israel Prize is the country’s highest civilian honour and is traditionally awarded to Israeli citizens for excellence in fields such as science, arts and humanities. The Peace category has never been awarded before. In July 2025, Israel amended the prize rules to allow the honour to be given to a foreign citizen, paving the way for Trump’s selection.
According to CNN, Trump is expected to attend Israel’s Independence Day celebrations to receive the prize. Education Minister Yoav Kisch joined the meeting by phone to formally inform Trump of the decision, and the US president indicated that he would consider attending the ceremony.
Trump and Netanyahu also discussed the second phase of the Gaza peace plan, Hamas disarmament, and issues related to the occupied West Bank. Trump acknowledged differences between the two leaders but said discussions were ongoing.
‘We have had a discussion, a big discussion, for a long time on the West Bank, and I would not say we agree on the West Bank 100 per cent, but we will come to a conclusion on the West Bank,’ Trump said.
Despite differences, Trump said he had no concerns about Israel’s actions.
‘I am not concerned about anything that Israel is doing. I am concerned about what other people are doing or maybe are not doing, but I am not concerned. They have lived up to the plan. They are strong,’ he said.
‘Israel has lived up to the plan, 100 per cent,’ Trump added.
Netanyahu described the talks as highly productive and praised Trump’s role in the region.
‘I had a very, very productive meeting with US President Donald Trump. Thank you for your support,’ Netanyahu said.
He added that Trump has ‘achieved remarkable things in the Middle East because we work together’.
‘We talk about our ideas. Sometimes we have different ideas, but we work it out, and most of the time, we see eye to eye,’ Netanyahu said. (ANI)