Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday he was breaking conventions to award President Donald Trump the Israel Prize.

NETANYAHU: I have to say that, in addition to what I said, that we’ve never had a friend, even close a friend, as President Trump in the White House. I think he’s been extraordinary in his friendship and his support for Israel, his principled positions, his willingness to just cut through and get to the essence of things. And I don’t say that as a compliment. I just mean it. People have heard me say that behind your back, Mr. President, many times. But I want to say something else. I think we have a partnership, if I can quote you, second to none. I think it’s allowed us to do enormous things. People said there was a different conception at one time, which means that America can advance its interest in the Middle East if it opens a lot of daylight between it and Israel. And President Trump has done the exact opposite. He’s achieved remarkable things in the Middle East because we work together. We talk about our ideas. Sometimes we have different ideas, but we work it out. And most of the time, we see eye to eye. But it’s been a remarkable experience, and this was a very, very productive meeting. And may I say, a very good lunch. Thank you. Thank you for your friendship. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Thank you very much. NETANYAHU: And thank you for your support. It’s meant from the heart. TRUMP: Thank you. You know, as I said outside, he’s been a wartime prime minister, and we were – I guess I could say I was a wartime president in more places than just Israel, if you think about it. But Israel was a big factor, and we’re with you, and we’ll continue to be with you. And a lot of good things are happening in the Middle East. We have peace in the Middle East, and we’re going to try and keep it that way. I think we will be very successful in keeping it that way. And you’ve been a great friend, and I’ve been a great friend to you and to Israel. And it’s been my honor. And the award that I was given was really surprising and very much appreciated. NETANYAHU: Well, President Trump has broken so many conventions to the surprise of people, and then they figure out, oh, well, maybe, you know, he was right after all. So we decided to break a convention, too, 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’re going to award it this year to President Trump. This was announced formally over lunch by our minister of education, who’s responsible for the Israel Prize. It’s going to be awarded to President Donald J. Trump for his tremendous contributions to Israel and the Jewish people. I think there’s – it’s such a fitting thing, and it would honor us, obviously, Mr. President, if you could visit Israel on that occasion, on our Independence Day. But I have to say that this reflects the overwhelming sentiment of Israelis across the spectrum. They appreciate what you’ve done to help Israel and to help our common battle against the terrorists and those who would destroy our civilization. So again, that’s an expression of thanks and appreciation. TRUMP: Thank you, Bibi, very much.

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