“Your presence in Jerusalem to personally receive the Israel Prize would be a moment of profound significance for the people of Israel,” the letter reads.
By United with Israel Staff
Israel has formally invited President Donald Trump to travel to Jerusalem this spring to personally receive the Israel Prize, following a historic decision to honor him for lifetime contributions to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
In an official letter dated February 10, 2026, Education Minister Yoav Kisch wrote that it was with “great respect and deep appreciation” that Israel was extending the invitation to Trump to attend the Israel Prize Award Ceremony on April 22 in Jerusalem.
The letter states that the prize committee reached an “historic decision” to award Trump the Israel Prize for “Lifetime Special Contribution to the State of Israel and the Jewish People,” citing his “exceptional leadership” and enduring impact on Israel–U.S. relations.
Kisch noted that the ceremony will take place as part of Israel’s official 78th Independence Day celebrations and will be attended by the president, the prime minister, senior government officials, and representatives from across Israeli society.
“Your presence in Jerusalem to personally receive the Israel Prize would be a moment of profound significance for the people of Israel,” the letter reads, calling it a powerful expression of the deep and enduring friendship between the two nations. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee was copied on the invitation.
According to Israeli officials, Trump is also being considered for the honor of lighting a ceremonial torch at the Independence Day festivities, a gesture reserved for figures seen as embodying the spirit and values of the state.
Trump is expected to receive a unique, specially designed statuette created in his honor by Ben Dror, a 24-year-old Israeli designer who has served roughly 600 days of reserve duty since the outbreak of the war.
The sculpture’s base is composed of stones modeled after those of the Western Wall, while its upper section features a polished, golden Star of David emerging from the stone. The design is intended to symbolize resilience, renewal, and Israel’s future.
The invitation follows the announcement made in December by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who revealed that Trump would become the first non-Israeli in the prize’s history to receive the honor. Speaking alongside Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Netanyahu said the decision reflected the “overwhelming sentiment” of the Israeli public.
“We decided to break a convention, or create a new one,” Netanyahu said at the time. “We’re going to award the Israel Prize to President Donald J. Trump for his tremendous contributions to Israel and the Jewish people.”
If Trump accepts the invitation, the visit would mark one of the most symbolically significant moments in the history of the Israel Prize, underscoring the depth of ties between Jerusalem and Washington at a time of heightened regional and diplomatic challenges.
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