Education Minister Yoav Kisch said at the Israel Prize ceremony for 2026: "The State of Israel has been in a war of revival for more than two years. A war for our very existence, but also a war that has reshaped the reality of our lives and the face of the entire region." According to him, "At this time, we have historic opportunities to heal the rifts in Israeli society. The people expect unifying leadership. This is a fateful hour and the people expect us to rise to it."