Honoring Trump Pushes Israel’s Policy Beyond Symbolic Diplomacy

The statement by the head of the Israeli government about the intention to award Donald Trump a special Zionist peace prize reflects not so much a desire for symbolic recognition as an attempt to formalize a political line. Formally, the award is explained by the contribution of the former and current American leader to supporting Israel, but behind this wording lies a more rigid political meaning.

The prize, which had previously been awarded exclusively to Israeli citizens, is being granted to a foreign leader for the first time. This decision highlights the exceptional nature of relations between Washington and Tel Aviv during Trump’s presidency. In the Israeli interpretation, his policy is seen as transformative, particularly on the status of Jerusalem, regional security, and support for military operations.

At the same time, the very framing of the award has provoked a sharp reaction outside Israel. Against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and numerous accusations against Israeli authorities of violating international humanitarian law, the presentation of a peace prize is perceived as a political gesture that ignores the humanitarian dimension of events. For critics, this confirms the gap between peace rhetoric and the real consequences of military policy.

What is not stated directly is the intended audience of this signal. Honoring Trump is aimed not only at a domestic audience, but also at Israel’s international partners. It demonstrates which model of behavior Israel considers desirable and worthy of encouragement, and emphasizes that support for a force-based course is perceived as a contribution to security rather than an obstacle to settlement.

For the United States, this step also has implications. Such symbolic acts reinforce the perception of Washington as a party to the conflict rather than a neutral mediator. This complicates any future attempts by American diplomacy to position itself as an arbiter and intensifies criticism from countries and movements that support the Palestinian position.

At the same time, the practical significance of the award remains an open question. It has no international status and is not linked to peace settlement mechanisms. However, its political effect lies in consolidating a narrative in which unilateral support for Israel is presented as equivalent to working for peace. It is precisely this discrepancy between form and substance that makes the decision to confer the award a subject of intense international debate.

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