00:00I think he's been extraordinary in his friendship and his support for Israel.
00:04His principled positions, his willingness to just cut through and get to the essence of things.
00:12And I don't say that as a compliment. I just mean it.
00:16People have heard me say that behind your back, Mr. President, many times.
00:20But I want to say something else.
00:21I think we have a partnership, if I can quote you, second to none.
00:26I think it's allowed us to do enormous things.
00:30You know, people said there was a different conception at one time,
00:33which means that America can advance its interest in the Middle East if it opens a lot of daylight between it and Israel.
00:41And President Trump has done the exact opposite.
00:44He's achieved remarkable things in the Middle East because we work together.
00:49We talk about our ideas.
00:52Sometimes we have different ideas, but we work it out.
00:54And most of the time we see eye to eye.
00:57But it's been a remarkable experience.
00:59And this was a very, very productive meeting.
01:03And may I say a very good lunch.
01:06Thank you for your friendship.
01:07Thank you very much.
01:08And thank you for your support.
01:09It's meant from the heart.
01:12You know, as I said outside, he's been a wartime prime minister.
01:15And we were, I guess I could say I was a wartime president in more places than just Israel, if you think about it.
01:23But Israel was a big factor.
01:25And we're with you.
01:27And we'll continue to be with you.
01:29And a lot of good things are happening in the Middle East.
01:32We have peace in the Middle East.
01:33And we're going to try and keep it that way.
01:34I think we will be very successful in keeping it that way.
01:39And you've been a great friend.
01:42And I've been a great friend to you and to Israel.
01:44And it's been my honor.
01:46And the award that I was given was really surprising and very much appreciated.
01:53Well, President Trump has broken so many conventions to the surprise of people.
01:58And then they figure out, oh, well, maybe, you know, he was right after all.
02:02So we decided to break a convention, too, or create a new one.
02:06And that is to award the Israel Prize, which in almost our 80 years, we've never awarded it to a non-Israeli.
02:14And we're going to award it this year to President Trump.
02:19This was announced formally over lunch by our Minister of Education, who's responsible for the Israel Prize.
02:28It's going to be awarded to President Donald J. Trump for his tremendous contributions to Israel and the Jewish people.
02:37I think there's – it's such a fitting thing.
02:41And it would honor us, obviously, Mr. President, if you could visit Israel in that occasion, on our Independence Day.
02:49But I have to say that this reflects the overwhelming sentiment of Israelis across the spectrum.
02:57They appreciate what you've done to help Israel and to help our common battle against the terrorists and those who would destroy our civilization.
03:06So, again, that's an expression of thanks and appreciation.
