Netanyahu nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that he had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, as the two leaders met for the first time since the U.S. had struck Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The Guardian reported that on Jul. 7, Trump hosted Netanyahu to dinner at the White House, expected to press him to agree to a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, a war nearing its second year.

“I want to present to you, Mr President, the letter I sent to the Nobel Prize committee,” said Netanyahu, handing Trump the letter over the dinner table. “It’s nominating you for the Peace Prize, which is well deserved, and you should get it.”

Relocating Palestinians from Gaza

During the meeting, Trump was also asked by reporters if he still had plans to relocate Palestinians in Gaza.

Trump and his Administration had earlier floated the idea of relocating every Palestinian there to the neighbouring countries of Jordan and Egypt.

Trump passed the question to Netanyahu.

“It’s called free choice. You know, if people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,” Netanyahu said. “It shouldn’t be a prison.”

“We’re working with the United States very closely about finding countries that will seek to realise what they always say they wanted – to give the Palestinians a better future. And… I think we’re getting close to finding several countries.”

The question came amid reports that Israel had plans to force all Palestinians in Gaza into a camp in the ruins of Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip.

Briefing Israeli journalists, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had previously explained that Palestinians are to go through a “security screening” before entry, and would not be allowed to leave once inside.

Although he has lauded the project as a “humanitarian city”, the plan has been criticised by legal experts and academics as a blueprint for ethnic cleansing.

Another nomination from Pakistan

In response to Netanyahu’s nomination, Trump said, “Coming from you in particular, this is very meaningful. Thank you very much, Bibi,” referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.

This is not the only high-profile nomination Trump has received.

In June, Pakistan announced that it would nominate Trump for the prize, explaining that he deserved the award “in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership during the recent India-Pakistan crisis".

This came about a month after Pakistan and India reached a ceasefire deal following four days of fighting.

Trump took credit for the ceasefire, writing in a post on Truth Social that "I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision”.

However, according to the BBC, India has denounced the U.S.’ mediator role, saying it does not want a third party to intervene in its diplomatic matters.

The same day, Trump posted on Truth Social that despite arranging negotiations among multiple nations, including India and Pakistan, he “won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize” for it.

"No, I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do,” he posted.

He has often criticised former U.S. President Barack Obama for winning a Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, less than eight months after being sworn in as U.S. President, the BBC observed, noting that Trump called on the Norwegian Nobel Committee to rescind the award in 2013.

How does the Nobel Peace Prize work?

According to the Nobel Foundation, a valid nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize can come from a member of a national assembly, state government or international court, as well as the heads of universities, professors of selected fields and previous winners of the prize.

Nominations are kept secret by the foundation for 50 years unless revealed by nominators themselves, as is the case for Netanyahu and the government of Pakistan.

Five appointed members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, who are forbidden from holidng a political post in Norway, create a shortlist of candidates during a year-long secret selection process.

Each year in October, the commitee’s chairman announces to the public the winners of the prize, awarding each with a gold medal and diploma later in December, along with a cash prize that has in recent years been worth US$1 million – to be split in the case of multiple winners.

Top image via Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו/Instagram