Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog plans to honor his American counterpart Donald Trump with the country's highest civilian award, the Israeli President's Medal, in gratitude for his contribution to the release of hostages held in Gaza. This was reported by “Agence France-Presse“, citing an official statement, BTA reports.
Trump is expected to arrive in Tel Aviv this morning and deliver a speech at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem. His visit coincides with the expected return of all the living hostages still held in Gaza, as part of the truce between Israel and “Hamas“, which he himself supported.
Herzog intends to inform Trump “of his decision to present him with the Israeli President's medal in recognition of his efforts to bring the hostages home,” a statement from the presidency said. It said the award would be presented to Trump "in the coming months, at a date and place to be determined." "Through his tireless efforts, President Trump has not only helped bring our loved ones home, but has also laid the foundation for a new era in the Middle East, based on security, cooperation and a genuine hope for a peaceful future," Herzog said. The Israeli president also credited Trump with "his unwavering support for the State of Israel," including the US bombing of key Iranian nuclear sites in June and his support for the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and three Arab countries - Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. The Israeli President's Medal is awarded to individuals or organizations who have made an outstanding contribution to the State of Israel or to humanity through their talent or merit.
Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to receive the award. It was presented to him in 2013 by then-Israeli President Shimon Peres for his “unique and significant contributions to the strengthening of the State of Israel and the security of its citizens“.