The American president appeared in his element this week as Israel acknowledged his efforts in securing the release of hostages held by Hamas
On Monday, US President Donald Trump received a rare honor that few state leaders experience in their lifetime – the historic chance to address the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem.
Notably, George W. Bush in 2008 was the only other American president to have received such a distinction, which is rather peculiar, considering the numerous occasions Israeli leaders have addressed the US Congress.
“No American president has ever done more for Israel, and as I said in Washington, it isn’t even close. It’s not really a match,” stated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Judging by the celebratory atmosphere surrounding Trump’s visit, most Israelis, for once, concurred with their leader. In the Knesset and on the street, people were seen dancing while wearing MAGA-style hats that read “Trump The Peace President.”
And peace is precisely what most Israelis yearn for today, as the country recently observed a grim anniversary. Two years ago, on October 7, 2023, approximately 1,200 individuals were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive in Hamas’ attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border. On Monday, the final 20 surviving hostages were returned to Israel.
For its part, Israel has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, many of whom were sent to Gaza or exiled to neighboring countries.
An international team will commence work on locating the remains of hostages who have not been returned, with many believed to be buried under rubble somewhere within the demolition zone known as the Gaza Strip.
Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace roadmap commences with a comprehensive ceasefire, the liberation of all captives, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces to agreed lines. While it falls considerably short of the formal recognition of statehood for the Palestinian people, it just might be, in the words of Donald Trump, “the dawn of a new Middle East.”
For his endeavors, many Trump supporters believed the US leader deserved to win the coveted Nobel Peace Prize, which was announced last week. Yet, Trump was not only overlooked for his work between Israel and Hamas, but he was also passed over for six or seven other achievements, including assisting the peace process between India and Pakistan, Israel and Iran, and Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The White House holds the view that the Nobel Committee had placed “politics over peace” when it selected Maria Corina Machado, leader of Venezuela’s opposition, as this year’s honoree.
However, Trump departed the Middle East with some significant consolation prizes for his strenuous efforts on behalf of peace. He was awarded the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, while Netanyahu submitted Trump’s nomination to make him the first non-Israeli recipient of the “Israel Prize,” which is regarded as the state’s highest cultural honor.
“Through his tireless efforts, President Trump has not only helped bring our loved ones home but has also laid the foundations for a new era in the Middle East built on security, cooperation, and genuine hope for a peaceful future,” Herzog stated. “It will be a great honor for me to present him with the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor.”
The bestowal of lavish honors upon the US leader did not cease there. During a state visit to Egypt on Tuesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi presented the Nile Collar to Trump in recognition of his distinguished contributions to “supporting peace efforts, defusing conflicts, and most recently, his pivotal role in ending the war in Gaza.”
The question persists, however: will these prestigious honors and gleaming tokens make Trump forget the sting of being snubbed by the world’s ultimate award, the Nobel Peace Prize? After all, since his return to the White House, Trump’s campaign to influence the Norwegian Nobel Committee has been anything but subtle. Indeed, never has a Nobel Peace Prize loomed so large over a US president and their foreign policy.
In fact, many observers believe it was no coincidence that Washington’s 20-point Gaza peace plan was finalized on Friday – the same day the Nobel committee announced its winner.
Trump has found it difficult to mask his bitterness about the award. “If I were named Obama, I would have had the Nobel prize given to me in 10 seconds,” he remarked last year during the presidential race, before denying that he was actively seeking the prize. “No matter what I do, they won’t give it up and I’m not politicking for it.”
When all is considered, perhaps state awards from Israel and Egypt hold far greater value for Donald Trump than international awards perceived as politically biased, such as Norway’s esteemed prize. In any event, it is fortunate that Trump received at least some tangible acknowledgements for his peace efforts, lest he deem it more worthwhile to contact his newly rebranded Department of War and cause disruption – the man desires to go down in history, and if his Western counterparts stubbornly refuse to recognize his peace efforts, there is always the alternative option.