In a historic address to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, former U.S. President Donald Trump declared the dawn of a new era.
"This is not only the end of a war, but the end of an age of terror and death, and the beginning of an age of faith and hope," he proclaimed, marking the return of the last twenty Israeli hostages to their families in emotionally charged scenes.
According to Breitbart, Trump's speech was met with a standing ovation and a trumpet salute, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana by his side. The gallery was speckled with red "Make America Great Again" hats, a testament to Trump's enduring influence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his gratitude to Trump for his unwavering support for Israel over the years. "Donald Trump is the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House," Netanyahu stated, highlighting Trump's role in the hostage deal, his recognition of Israeli rights in Judea and Samaria, his support for the Abraham Accords, and his opposition to Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Netanyahu also lauded Trump's peace plan for Gaza, describing it as a proposal that "ends the war by achieving all our objectives" and "opens the door to an expansion of peace in our region, and beyond our region."
Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana hailed Trump as "a giant of Jewish history," commending his commitment to ensuring that "America First" did not translate to "America alone." Ohana revealed that he had nominated Trump for the Israel Prize, a prestigious honor never before bestowed upon a non-Israeli.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid, however, took a different stance, arguing that there had never been a "genocide" in Gaza and accusing Israel's liberal critics of being manipulated into supporting Islamic terror.
Trump began his address by expressing gratitude to God, the God of "Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob." He painted a picture of a Holy Land finally at peace after years of unrelenting war and danger, predicting a "Golden Age of Israel, and the Golden Age of the Middle East."
Trump extended his thanks to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, acknowledging his tough negotiation skills. He also expressed gratitude to the Arab and Muslim nations for pressuring Hamas to accept the peace deal and lauded his negotiators, including U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
The speech was briefly interrupted by hecklers, presumably from Arab parties with extremist views. They were swiftly removed, prompting Trump to quip, "That was very efficient," as the Knesset erupted in chants of "Trump! Trump! Trump!"
Trump also acknowledged his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, for his love for Israel, which led his daughter, Ivanka, to convert to Judaism. He praised Kushner's role in the Abraham Accords and commended Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for their contributions.
Trump recalled the horror of October 7 and lauded "the incredible skill and bravery of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)." He spoke about the attack on Iran and suggested the possibility of a peace deal with Iran, stating that the country's leaders might be open to negotiations. "They want to survive," he said.
Trump marveled at the universal joy at the end of the war, noting that people were celebrating in countries that would have never rejoiced over such an event. He told the Knesset, "You've won, by force of arms," and urged them to transform their military victory into peace and prosperity.
Trump criticized his predecessors, Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, for their approach towards Israel. He accused them of harboring an "absolute hatred" towards the country. He praised Israel's progress and encouraged Palestinians to reject "terror and violence."
Trump concluded his speech by celebrating Jerusalem as the home to the world's great religions and praising Israel's continued faith in God. He expressed his love for Israel and his commitment to its future. "God bless you, God bless the United States of America, and God bless the Middle East," he concluded.
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