Trump to receive Israel’s highest honor as he grants Netanyahu a free hand in Mar-a-Lago lovefest

Donald Trump is still chasing the Nobel Prize.

But in the meantime he will have to make do with Israel’s highest honor.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that he would present the American president with the Israel Prize, making Trump the first non-Israeli to receive the award.

The Israeli leader’s surprise statement came after the two leaders met for hours to discuss the future of Gaza and Middle East issues. The meeting and press were friendly, with leaders repeatedly praising each other’s leadership and strong determination.

The courteous interactions and presidential reward come at a time when Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan has stalled and the tenuous agreement is threatened with both Hamas and Israel accusing each other of violating the agreement.

Difficult humanitarian and logistical concerns remain as both sides seek to enter the second phase of the plan, which mandates the disarmament of Hamas and the deployment of an unspecified international stabilization force in Gaza.

“So we decided to break a contract or create a new one, and that is to give the Israel Prize, which we have not given to a non-Israeli in almost 80 years, and we will give it to President Trump this year,” Netanyahu said at a press conference after meeting with the president at Mar-a-Lago.

The Israel Prize is the country’s highest cultural honor and has been awarded annually for the last 72 years since 1953. It generally celebrates contributions to the humanities, sciences, arts, and Jewish culture.

Israel Prize logo. Israel Prize recipients usually receive a badge and ribbon bearing this logo

While the two leaders drew attention to their friendly relations, they also stated that they did not get along amicably from time to time.

Indian conductor Zubin Mehta was awarded a special award at the Israel Prize ceremony in 1991, but it is not clear whether he won the full award. Mehta lived in Israel for many years and conducted the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

The award is usually given on April 21, Israel’s independence day. Netanyahu shared that he hoped Trump would receive the award in person in Israel.

‘This reflects the overwhelming sentiment of Israelis from all walks of life,’ the Prime Minister said. ‘They appreciate what you have done to help Israel, to help our common fight against terrorists and those who would destroy our civilization.’

In answering questions from the press, Trump repeatedly defended Netanyahu as a ‘wartime’ leader who faces intense scrutiny over his ongoing corruption case in which he allegedly accepted bribes of champagne and cigars for political benefits.

“You’ve been a great friend, and I’ve been a great friend of you and Israel, and it’s been an honor,” Trump said at the press conference.

‘And the award I was given was truly amazing and very much appreciated,’ he added.

Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch shared with Trump that the US leader would receive the award during the closed-door meeting of the Israeli and US delegations.

Trump is fond of awards and has repeatedly said this year that he failed to win the Nobel Peace Prize despite helping end nearly a dozen wars.

The meeting highlighted Trump’s close ties with Netanyahu and his support for the prime minister’s handling of the war with Hamas.

Speaking to reporters at the press conference, Trump said, “Nothing Israel does concerns me.”

Netanyahu also emphasized during the meeting that Israel is concerned about Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

Trump says he will support Israeli attacks on Iran if Islamic Republic continues to develop nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles

The president also announced that he would support Israeli attacks on Iran if Iran continues to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

‘Now I hear Iran is trying to regain power and if so we need to destroy them. “We’re going to root them out,” Trump told reporters.

‘But I hope that doesn’t happen. I heard Iran wants to make a deal. If they want to make a deal, that would be much smarter.’

Israeli officials have recently expressed concern about Iran rebuilding its long-range missile capabilities.

The fifth meeting this year between Trump and Netanyahu comes as White House officials express frustration with Israel and Hamas’ slow progress on the second phase of the president’s peace plan.

The complex second phase of the ceasefire involves the establishment of a technocratic Palestinian government, ending decades of Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip.

It also sets up the reconstruction of the fragmented Palestinian territories, which would be overseen by Trump and a group he calls the Peace Board. If all goes as planned, the ‘technocratic, apolitical’ interim Palestinian government will oversee day-to-day operations in Gaza and report directly to the Peace Corps and President Trump.

Trump’s 20-point peace plan, approved by the UN, would give the Peace Board a two-year renewable mandate to rebuild Gaza.