Trump Praises Middle East Envoy Witkoff in Knesset Speech

Former US President Donald Trump delivered a historic address to Israel’s Knesset, marking the first by a sitting American president since 2008. His speech celebrated the recent US-brokered ceasefire that ended Israel’s two-year conflict with Hamas.

Trump Praises Special Envoy

During his remarks, Trump heaped praise on Steve Witkoff, his White House Special Envoy to the Middle East. He described Witkoff as a master negotiator and trusted confidant. Trump notably referred to him as “Henry Kissinger who doesn’t leak,” a comment that drew laughter and applause from Israeli lawmakers.

The Knesset gave Witkoff a standing ovation after Trump recounted a detailed story about his envoy’s behind-the-scenes negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This recognition underscored the envoy’s critical role in the administration’s foreign policy efforts in the Middle East.

Light Moments with Kushner and Netanyahu

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Shifting to a lighter tone, Trump then mentioned his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, the architect of the Abraham Accords. He joked about his daughter Ivanka’s conversion to Judaism, turning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a smile. “And Bibi, you do know this was not in the cards for me, you understand that,” Trump said.

He went on to praise Kushner’s contribution to Middle East peace, even playfully correcting his own earlier mispronunciation of the accords’ Hebrew name. “Avraham, it’s so cool. So much, sorta, nicer. The Abraham, versus the Avraham,” he remarked as laughter rippled through the chamber. The address highlighted the diplomatic achievements and personal relationships that characterized the administration’s approach to the Middle East.