Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially announced today (local time) that he has nominated President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. According to leading foreign media outlets, including The Washington Post (WP), Prime Minister Netanyahu disclosed at a dinner with President Trump at the White House that he had sent a letter of recommendation to the Nobel Committee. He emphasized that President Trump is highly deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize for his historical expansion of the 'Abraham Accords,' which normalized relations between Israel and Arab nations.

Netanyahu lauded Trump for what he called Israel's "historic victory" over Iran through close cooperation, attributing it to "the combination of America's peak capabilities and Israel's outstanding capabilities." This statement, coming just over two weeks after President Trump's surprise airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities, is interpreted as a reaffirmation of both leaders' strong resolve regarding the Middle East. Netanyahu escalated his warning to Iran, stating, "I hope Iran will not test our resolve, but if it does, it will be a mistake."

The Nobel Peace Prize nomination has garnered attention, coinciding with Trump's strong desire for the award, which dates back to his first term. During his presidency, Trump was repeatedly mentioned as a Nobel Peace Prize candidate for efforts such as improving North Korea-U.S. relations, and the Abraham Accords are considered one of his major diplomatic achievements. The Abraham Accords refer to a series of peace agreements brokered by the Trump administration in 2020, which normalized diplomatic ties between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. They later expanded to include Sudan and Morocco, establishing a new diplomatic landscape in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu expressed support for Trump's "excellent vision" for a reconstruction plan for Gaza, contingent on the relocation of its residents, which Trump presented during their first meeting in February. At the time, Trump's concept of relocating Gaza residents to neighboring countries and developing the area into a "Middle East Riviera" sparked international controversy. Netanyahu commented on this, saying, "Relocation is a free choice. If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to. It shouldn't be a prison; people should be given a free choice."

However, Trump's nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize is not without its challenges. Last November, Ukraine nominated then-President-elect Trump for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, but withdrew the nomination late last month after Trump showed signs of wanting to end the Ukraine war in a way that would favor Russia. Thus, controversy over Trump's eligibility for the Nobel Peace Prize is expected to continue, depending on his diplomatic actions.