Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave U.S. President Donald Trump an unusual gift when he visited the White House. The Israeli leader presented Trump with a golden pager, according to published reports. The gift was meant to commemorate Israel’s campaign targeting Hezbollah operatives through the use of thousands of explosive pagers and walkie-talkies. You can read more about that in our reporting here.
“The Prime Minister’s Office acknowledges that Benjamin Netanyahu gave a golden pager as a gift to US President Donald Trump during their meeting on Tuesday,” the Times of Israel reported Thursday morning. “The gift ‘symbolizes the Prime Minister’s decision that led to a turning point in the war and the starting point for breaking the will of the terrorist organization Hezbollah,’ says Netanhayhu’s office. The operation ‘expresses the power, technological superiority and cunning of Israel against its enemies,’ according to the [Prime Minister’s Office] PMO.”
CNN confirmed the golden pager gift as well, citing an Israeli political source.
The gift is a gold-plated pager on a background of laminated wood. The pager displayed a message poking fun at the attack last September that killed dozens and injured thousands.
“Press With Both Hands,” it read.
Below the pager is a plaque.
“To President Donald J. Trump, Our greatest friend and greatest ally. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” the plaque stated.
The first wave of explosions, on Sept. 17, targeted pagers used by Hezbollah that were triggered simultaneously. The second wave of explosions, on the following day, targeted walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah. You can read more details about how it unfolded in our reporting here.
The attack helped turn the tide against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, which also suffered major blows in a subsequent Israeli air and ground campaign.
Since returning to office, Trump has repeatedly vowed to support Israel and signed an Executive Order “restoring maximum pressure on Iran.”
On Tuesday, he shocked the world suggesting the U.S. will take over the war-torn Gaza Strip.
“I do see a long-term ownership position, and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East, and maybe the entire Middle East,” he said.
“We’re going to take over that piece and we’re going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs. And it will be something that the entire Middle East can be very proud of.”
“We have an opportunity to do something that could be phenomenal. And I don’t want to be cute. I don’t want to be a wise guy. But the Riviera of the Middle East.”
It should be noted that Trump was not in office when Israel carried out the pager attacks, but the program dates back years. There is no evidence available that the Trump administration had any hand in the sabotage operation. However, gold is his favorite color.
As of Thursday afternoon, there was no comment from Trump on the golden pager. We’ve reached out to the White House for more information and will update this story with any pertinent details provided.
Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com