Florida: US President Donald Trump will be honoured with Israel’s highest civilian award — the Israel Prize for Peace, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday after a bilateral meeting in Florida, CNN reported.
Netanyahu confirmed that the Israeli government has officially decided to confer the prize on Trump, marking a historic moment as it will be the first time in 80 years that the prestigious award is being presented to a non-Israeli citizen, and also the first time the Peace category has ever been awarded.
The announcement was made during a joint press briefing at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. Visibly surprised, Trump expressed gratitude, calling the honour “unexpected and very much appreciated.”
Netanyahu said the decision reflects the overwhelming appreciation of Israelis.
“President Trump has broken many conventions to surprise people, so we decided to break a convention and award the Israel Prize — which has never been given to a non-Israeli — to President Donald J Trump, for his immense contribution to the Israeli and Jewish people,” he said.
He added that Israelis across the spectrum recognise Trump’s role in supporting Israel and its fight against terrorism.
Traditionally, the Israel Prize is awarded to citizens excelling in fields like science, arts and humanities. However, in July 2025, Israel amended the prize rules to allow foreign recipients, paving the way for Trump’s selection.
CNN reported that Trump is expected to attend Israel’s Independence Day celebrations to receive the honour. Education Minister Yoav Kisch formally informed Trump of the decision during the meeting, to which Trump responded that he would consider attending the ceremony.
Talks on Gaza and West Bank
The leaders also discussed the second phase of the Gaza peace plan, Hamas disarmament, and developments in the West Bank. Trump acknowledged differences between the two leaders but remained optimistic about reaching an understanding.
“We may not agree 100% on the West Bank, but we will come to a conclusion,” Trump said.
He reiterated strong support for Israel, stating,
“I’m not concerned about anything Israel is doing. They’ve lived up to the plan — 100%.”
Netanyahu described the talks as productive, praising Trump’s continued influence in the Middle East.
“We work together, sometimes with different ideas, but we resolve them — and most of the time, we see eye to eye,” he said.