Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that US President Donald Trump will be awarded Israel’s highest civilian honour, the Israel Prize, in an unprecedented move that breaks with long-standing tradition.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Netanyahu said the decision reflected Trump’s contributions to Israel and the Jewish people. The Israel Prize has traditionally been awarded only to Israeli citizens for lifetime achievement and national service, and has never before been given to a foreign leader.

“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 are going to award it this year to President Trump,” Netanyahu said, adding that the award would be formally presented on Israel’s Independence Day. He invited Trump to attend the ceremony in Israel.

Netanyahu said the decision reflected broad public support in Israel, describing it as an expression of gratitude for Trump’s policies and actions toward the country. He praised Trump’s approach to US-Israel relations, saying close coordination between the two governments had produced significant regional outcomes.

Trump described the announcement as “a great honour” and thanked Netanyahu, referring to their relationship as a close personal friendship. He praised Netanyahu’s leadership, calling him a “wartime prime minister,” and said Israel’s survival during recent conflicts was linked to his leadership.

“If you had eight out of 10 prime ministers in his position right now… you wouldn't have Israel any longer,” Trump said.

“Because of that victory, we were able to get peace in the Middle East,” He added.

Both leaders highlighted their alignment on major regional issues, including security, Gaza, and Iran. Trump said they agreed on most matters, while Netanyahu emphasized Trump’s willingness to challenge established diplomatic norms.

Trump’s presidency was marked by major policy shifts toward Israel, including recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and strong diplomatic backing during periods of heightened conflict.