Trump to receive Israel Prize

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said President Trump will be receiving the Israel Prize, the highest honor awarded by the state of Israel.

The two met Monday at Mr. Trump’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago.

“President Trump has broken so many conventions to the surprise of people, and then they figure out, ‘Oh, well, maybe you know he was right after all,’” Mr. Netanyahu said. “So we decided to break a convention … or create a new one, and that is to award the Israel Prize, which, in almost our 80 years we’ve never awarded it to a non-Israeli, and we’re going to award it this year to President Trump.”

He said the prize was for Mr. Trump’s “tremendous contributions to Israel and the Jewish people.”

“I have to say that this reflects the overwhelming sentiment of Israelis across the spectrum,” he told Mr. Trump. “They appreciate what you’ve done to help Israel and to help our common battle against the terrorists and those who would destroy our civilization.”

Israel’s education minister, Yoav Kisch, who administers the prize, informed Mr. Trump of his win through a phone call at the beginning of the meeting with Mr. Netanyahu.

“For the first time in the history of the State of Israel: The Israel Prize will be awarded to President Trump!” Mr. Kisch wrote on social media.

He called it “the most prestigious award by the State of Israel — for 2026, in the category of ‘Exceptional Contribution to the Jewish People.’” 

“This is a historic decision that expresses recognition of President Trump’s extraordinary contribution and lasting impact on the Jewish people in Israel and around the world,” he wrote.

This award for Mr. Trump comes shortly after he received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the 2026 World Cup draw.

“This is your prize, this is your peace prize,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Mr. Infantino said Mr. Trump was chosen for his “exceptional and extraordinary actions to promote peace and unity around the world.”

The creation of the FIFA Peace Prize was announced last month, just a few weeks after the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, an award Mr. Trump said he should’ve received. Instead, it went to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.