In the wake of the Nobel Committee's decision to award the Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Mara Corina Machado, a move that left many in Israel feeling overlooked, Ronny Douek, an Israel Prize laureate, has stepped forward to nominate U.
S. President Donald J. Trump for Israel's most prestigious honor.
Douek, in his nomination, lauded Trump as "a leader who, more than any other in our generation, has proven through his actions an unwavering commitment to Israels security and to peace in the Middle East."
The Israel Prize, often likened to the Nobel Prize, is the nation's highest civilian honor, traditionally awarded on Independence Day. The award is seldom bestowed upon non-citizens, prompting Douek to submit a formal request to Education Minister Yoav Kisch, seeking an exception for Trump to be recognized with the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement and Special Contribution to Society and the State.
In his nomination letter, Douek underscored Trump's ongoing diplomatic efforts, stating that "right now, through his current efforts to secure the return of the hostages and bring the war in Gaza to an end in a way that will guarantee security and stability for Israelhe is once again proving his deep commitment to the Jewish people and to the values of peace." He urged Israel to honor Trump on the forthcoming Independence Day.
Douek's nomination painted a broad picture of Trump's influence, stating that the U.S. President "acted with great determination, courage, and a deep love for the people of Israel, and truly paved a new path of hope and regional partnership." He further noted that "thanks to his direct leadership, historic peace agreements were achieved, Israels security interests were successfully preserved, and genuine hope for a better future for all of us was established."
According to Breitbart, Douek's nomination also highlighted Trump's ongoing efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages. It also detailed significant achievements from Trump's first term, including the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital and the 2018 embassy move; recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019; and the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords with the UAE and Bahrain, later joined by Morocco and Sudan.
The nomination also touched on Trump's broader regional influence, including his efforts towards de-escalation with Syria and constraining Hezbollah.
Calls for Trump's recognition had been mounting throughout the week. Families of Israeli hostages had earlier implored the Nobel Committee to honor Trump for his role in negotiating a hostage-release and ceasefire deal. This sentiment was echoed by world leaders, lawmakers, and public figures, who argued that "no leader has done more for peace and should be awarded the prize."
The White House responded to the Nobel Committee's decision, with Communications Director Steven Cheung stating that the committee placed politics over peace, and describing Trump as a leader who will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives.
Israels Prime Ministers Office echoed this sentiment: The Nobel Committee talks about peace. President @realDonaldTrump makes it happen. The facts speak for themselves. President #Trump deserves it.
Mara Corina Machado, the recipient of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, dedicated the award to the people of Venezuela and to President Donald Trump for his decisive support, adding that Venezuelans need his support more than ever.
Given Trump's historic efforts to broker hostage releases and his first-term breakthroughs, coupled with the reaction to the Nobel Committee's decision, the Israel Prize appears to be the fitting platform to honor his record of advancing peace.
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