Trump gives awards to top aides for Arab-Israeli deals

Senior US officials are hoping to seal one more agreement before Trump's term expires on Jan. 20.

By OMRI NAHMIAS, REUTERS
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed wave from the White House balcony after a signing ceremony for the Abraham Accords on the South Lawn of the White House on Septem (photo credit: REUTERS//TOM BRENNER)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed wave from the White House balcony after a signing ceremony for the Abraham Accords on the South Lawn of the White House on Septem
(photo credit: REUTERS//TOM BRENNER)
President Donald Trump gave national security awards on Wednesday to several top advisers for their role in helping broker normalization agreements between Israel and four countries in the Arab world.
Trump awarded the National Security Medal to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, national security adviser Robert O’Brien, senior adviser Jared Kushner, Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and John Rakolta, US ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
"Thanks to the efforts of these individuals, the region will never be the same as it finally moves beyond the conflicts of the past," the White House said in a statement.
Berkowitz, 32, became the youngest known person to receive the award. He was instrumental in negotiating normalization agreements between Israel to the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, also known as “the Abraham Accords.”
“I would like to thank President Trump for this tremendous honor,” Berkowitz told The Jerusalem Post. “I would also like to thank Jared Kushner for bringing me on to his team. Getting to work for Jared on four peace deals has been the highlight of my tenure in government. I feel lucky to have played my role. Peace is a beautiful thing,” he added.
Senior US officials are hoping to seal one more agreement before Trump's term expires on Jan. 20.
The president’s authority to award the National Security Medal dates to 1953, under an executive order that allows for recognition for major contributions in the field of national security.