Israel Breaks 80-Year Tradition to Award Donald Trump Its Highest Cultural Honor [Video]

A surprise announcement out of Palm Beach is changing how Israel hands out its most prestigious honor. Following a private meeting at Mar-a-Lago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that Israel plans to award Donald Trump the Israel Prize, a distinction that has never before gone to someone outside the country.

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The prize is considered Israel’s highest cultural recognition and has been awarded for decades exclusively to Israeli citizens. Addressing reporters alongside Trump, Netanyahu explained that the government intentionally chose to break tradition.

“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 to a non-Israeli, and we’re going to award it this year to President Trump,” he said. He noted the decision was formally announced by Israel’s education minister during their lunch.

Netanyahu continued by clarifying the reason behind the honor. “It’s going to be awarded to President Donald J. Trump for his tremendous contributions to Israel and the Jewish people,” he said, calling the moment “such a fitting thing.”

Trump responded with brief gratitude, telling reporters, “It really is a great honor.”

The recognition comes after years of Netanyahu publicly crediting Trump for reshaping Israel’s standing on the global stage. He has pointed to Trump’s support at the United Nations, recognition of Israeli claims in Judea and Samaria, and withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement as key moves that reshaped regional politics.

The announcement also follows a major ceasefire deal that helped end nearly two years of war in Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. That agreement led to the release of the final 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Netanyahu previously summed up his view of Trump’s record by saying, “No American president has ever done more for Israel. It ain’t even close.”