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US President Donald Trump’s long-standing quest for a Nobel Peace Prize may have fallen short in 2025, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a major alternative honour for the US leader. Following a bilateral meeting in Florida, Netanyahu said Israel will confer the Israel Prize for Peace on Trump, a move that breaks with decades of tradition.
Reacting to the announcement, Trump said the decision was “really surprising” and “very much appreciated”.
The Israel Prize is considered the country’s highest civilian and cultural honour. Netanyahu said Trump will receive the award in 2026, making him the first non-Israeli in the prize’s 80-year history to be honoured.
Netanyahu said the decision reflected “the overwhelming sentiment of Israelis across the spectrum” in appreciation of Trump’s support for Israel.
In a significant departure from precedent, Israel has also introduced a peace category within the Israel Prize for the first time, specifically to recognise Trump’s claimed role as a peacemaker.
‘Breaking convention’ to recognise Trump
Explaining the decision, Netanyahu said Israel had chosen to deliberately depart from long-standing norms to honour the US President.
“President Trump has broken so many conventions to surprise people, so we decided to break a convention or create a new one,” Netanyahu said.
“In 80 years, we have never awarded the Israel Prize to a non-Israeli. We have decided to award it to President Donald J Trump for his immense contribution to the Israeli and Jewish people.”
He added that the award reflects widespread appreciation in Israel for Trump’s actions in support of the country and what he described as a shared fight against terrorism.
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Earlier this year, Trump also received a newly created peace honour from FIFA. During the 2026 World Cup draw, FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented Trump with the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize, an award introduced without formal approval from the FIFA Council.
The latest recognition comes as Trump continues to emphasise his desire to be remembered globally as a peacemaker.
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