Trump likely to visit Israel for Independence Day

Israel reportedly expecting President Donald Trump to visit Israel for Independence Day to personally receive the Israel Prize, despite the ongoing war with Iran and Hezbollah.

By World Israel News Staff

The Israeli government is reportedly expecting President Donald Trump to visit Israel for Israeli Independence Day next month and to personally accept the Israel Prize, which is traditionally awarded at the state ceremony marking Independence Day.

Multiple Israeli officials told Kan News, Israel’s public broadcaster, in a report published on Tuesday that Trump is expected to visit Israel and to receive the Israel Prize in person at a ceremony on April 22.

At the end of last December, Israel’s Education Ministry, which is responsible for selecting recipients of the Israel Prize, chose to award the prize to Trump, marking the first time in the prize’s history that a non-Israeli has been honored with the prestigious award.

Trump was chosen to receive the award for his achievements in the category of “Lifetime Special contribution to the Jewish people,” the Education Ministry said.

According to Tuesday’s report, an internal Education Ministry memorandum estimated that there is a “high likelihood” that President Trump will take part in the ceremony next month in Jerusalem.

Last month, Minister of Education Yoav Kisch (Likud) penned a letter to Trump inviting the president to visit Israel for Independence Day in order to receive the award in person.

“This year, the Israel Prize Committee reached a historic decision to award you the Israel Prize for Lifetime Special contribution to the State of Israel and the Jewish People,” Kisch wrote.

“Your presence in Jerusalem to personally receive the Israel Prize would be a moment of profound significance for the people of Israel and a powerful expression of the deep and enduring friendship between our two nations,” Kisch added.