Photo: Getty Images
Israel will honor slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk with a posthumous award for combating antisemitism at a conference later this month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced Wednesday (January 14) via ABC News.
The posthumous award will be given at the International Conference on Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem, which is set to be attended by several pro-Israeli leaders including Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. Israel's government had previously hosted the conference once, which it says is “dedicated to confronting antisemitism and Holocaust denial in today’s world.”
Netanyahu described Kirk as a "lion-hearted friend" to Israel and a "defender of our common Judeo-Christian civilization" via ABC News. The pundit had invoked scripture and prophecy to urge American Christians to support Israel in its conflicts in the Middle East, but was also critical about Jewish philanthropy and Hollywood, drawing accusations of antisemitism, while also saying that his support for Israel had become rigid and he felt unable to voice mild criticism of the government's policies during an appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show prior to his death last year.
Kirk, who was assassinated on the campus of Utah Valley University in September 2025, founded Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization, at the age of 18 along with tea party activist William Montgomery in 2012. The political pundit gained notoriety debating liberal students, winning over conservative financiers.
Kirk enthusiastically supported President Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign and served as a personal aide to his son, Donald Trump Jr., during the campaign, while also gaining a regular presence on cable news.