Trump basks in his Israel-Hamas peace deal and looks toward a brighter future in the Middle East.
“Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker, esteemed members of the Knesset and cherished citizens of Israel,” began U.S. President Donald Trump in a speech to the Knesset in Israel over the weekend.
Visiting Israel to celebrate his recently inked peace deal and the release of hostages held by Hamas terrorists for over two years, President Trump inspired the crowd with a vision of peace so profound that it really should be getting more attention in the press.
“We gather on a day of profound joy, of soaring hope, of renewed faith, and above all, a day to give our deepest thanks to the Almighty God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” President Trump began spiritedly. “After two harrowing years in darkness and captivity, 20 courageous hostages are returning to the glorious embrace of their families, and it is glorious. 28 more precious loved ones are coming home, at last, to rest in this sacred soil for all of time. And after so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a holy land that is finally at peace. A land and a region that will live, God willing, in peace for all eternity.”
“This is not only the end of a war, this is the end of an age of terror and death and the beginning of the age of faith and hope and of God,” President Trump promised the jubilant crowd. “It’s the start of a grand concord and lasting harmony for Israel and all the nations of what will soon be a truly magnificent region. I believe that so strongly. This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East.”
“I want to express my gratitude to a man of exceptional courage and patriotism whose partnership did so much to make this momentous day possible,” Trump added. “You know who I’m talking about? There’s only one, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bibi, please stand up. And he is not easy, I want to tell you. He’s not the easiest guy to deal with, but that’s what makes him great. That’s what makes him great. Thank you very much, Bibi. Great job.”
“And let me also convey my tremendous appreciation for all of the nations of the Arab and Muslim world that came together to press Hamas to set the hostages free and to send them home,” Trump extended. “We had a lot of help. We had a lot of help from a lot of people that you wouldn’t suspect, and I want to thank them very much for that. It’s an incredible triumph for Israel and the world to have all of these nations working together as partners in peace. And it’s pretty unusual for you to see that, but it happened in this case. This was a very unusual point in time, a brilliant point in time.”
President Trump extensively thanked his envoy, Steve Witkoff, son-in-law/family diplomat Jared Kushner, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“So, many people said, ‘You’re just wasting your time,’ but we weren’t because we had talented people working with us and we people that loved your country and frankly, people that love the region, they love the Middle East,” Trump said of his team.
“Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change and change very much for the better,” hoped Trump. “Like the USA right now, it’ll be the golden age of Israel and the golden age of the Middle East, it’s going to work together.”
While the President’s speech went on for over an hour, in his usual style, Trump was expansive, detailed, and optimistic.
“We always had the strongest military,” bragged Trump. “And now, we have a stronger military than we’ve ever had before. Because of my first term. I’ve totally rebuilt the military, every aspect of it. But you think we settled eight wars in eight months. I’m now including this one, by the way, if that’s okay. They may say, ‘Well, that was quick,’ because yesterday I was saying seven, but now I can say eight. The hostages are back. The hostages are back. It is a good feeling. Isn’t that nice to say? The first time I said, ‘The hostages are back.’ It feels so good to say it, but when you settle eight wars in eight months, that means you don’t like war.”
“Everyone thought I was going to be brutal,” Trump reflected. “In fact, I remember Hillary Clinton during a debate, she said, ‘Look at him. Look at him. He’s going to go war with everybody.’ And actually, she said, ‘He’s got a personality that’s all about war.’ No, my personality actually is all about stopping wars and it seems to work.”
Trump was also not remiss when it came to reminding the Knesset, as if anyone needed reminding, how the war began two years ago.
“As we celebrate today, let us remember how this nightmare of depravity and death all began,” Trump implored. “Two years ago on the eve of the Simchat Torah holiday, thousands of innocent Israeli civilians were attacked by terrorists, and one of the most evil and heinous desecrations of innocent life the world has ever seen, the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust, the cruelty of October 7th struck to the core of humanity itself.”
“Nobody could believe what they were witnessing,” Trump added. “The United States of America grieved alongside you, and we mourned for our own citizens who were so viciously taken that day. And to all the families whose lives were forever changed by the atrocities of that day, and all of the people of Israel, please know that America joins you in those two everlasting vows. Never forget and never again. From October 7th until this week, Israel has been a nation at war, enduring burdens that only a proud and faithful people could withstand. It was a very tough period of time. For so many families across this land, it has been years since you’ve known a single day of true peace. But, now at last, not only for Israelis, but also for Palestinians, and for many others, the long and painful nightmare is finally over.”
“And as the dust settles, the smoke fades, the debris is removed, and the ashes clean from the air the day that breaks on a region transformed, and a beautiful and much brighter future appears suddenly within your reach,” Trump said. “This is now a very exciting time for Israel and for the entire Middle East, because all across the Middle East, the forces of chaos, terror, and ruin that have plagued the region for decades now stand weakened, isolated, and totally defeated. A new coalition of proud and responsible nations is emerging. And because of us, the enemies of all civilization are in retreat. Thanks to the bravery and incredible skill of the Israeli Defense Forces and Operation Rising Lion.”
“But, I think we have a chance,” Trump put in hopefully. “Steve, you and I think Jared, come on. I’ll call you back for another one. We always bring Jared, when we want to get that deal closed. We bring Jared, but Steve, you and Jared, and the general, and Pete, and Marco, you’ll get that deal done easy. I think that’ll be easy. But, first, we have to get Russia done. We got to get that one done. If you don’t mind, Steve, let’s focus on Russia first, all right? We’ll get it done. In Lebanon, the dagger of Hezbollah long aimed at Israel’s throat has been totally shattered. My administration is actively supporting the new president of Lebanon and his mission to permanently disarm Hezbollah’s terror brigades.”
“This long and difficult war has now ended,” declared Trump. “Some people say 3,000 years, some people say 500 years. Whatever it is, it’s the granddaddy of them all. And in an unprecedented achievement, virtually the entire region has endorsed the plan that Gaza will be immediately demilitarized, that Hamas will be disarmed, and Israel’s security will no longer be threatened in any way, shape, or form. Israel, with our help, has won all that they can. By force of arms, you’ve won, you’ve won. Now, it’s time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.”
“You have extraordinary potential in this region,” Trump added. “It should now be clear to everyone throughout the region that decades of fomenting terrorism and extremism, jihadism and anti-Semitism have not worked. They haven’t worked. They’ve been a disaster. They’ve just killed. They’ve killed. They’ve backfired completely and totally.”
“From Gaza to Iran, those bitter hatreds have delivered nothing but misery, suffering, failure and death,” Trump observed candidly. “They’ve served not to weaken Israel, but to annihilate the very forces that did the most to foment this hatred.”
If Trump is right, and the entire world should be hoping that he is, the forces of terror in the Middle East are, at last, on retreat.
With hope, faith, and unity in the coming months and years, the nations of the Middle East, in full cooperation with all their neighbors — including Israel — can enter into a new age of prosperity and peace.
In full friendship and partnership with U.S. President Donald Trump and the United States of America.
(Contributing writer, Brooke Bell)