JERUSALEM, Oct 13 (The African Portal) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday told the Knesset that President Donald Trump was “the greatest friend” Israel “has ever had in the White House”.
Trump arrived in Israel as Hamas released all 20 living Israeli hostages and several Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails under the latest Gaza ceasefire deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu got a rapturous response in the Knesset when he proclaimed, “Donald Trump is the greatest friend that the state of Israel has ever had in the White House.”
Meanwhile, all 20 living hostages held by Hamas have been released.
Notable deeds
Among other things, Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision in his first presidential term to shift US recognition of the Israeli capital to Jerusalem, and also for his efforts in brokering the Abraham Accords, which brought about diplomatic normalization of ties between Israel and several Arab states.
Netanyahu also lauded Trump for having made the proposal behind the current ceasefire, “a proposal that achieves all our objectives.”
The Israeli leader added that he was “committed to this peace.”
Previously, the speaker of the Knesset, Amir Ohana, said, “The world needs more Trumps.”
“You are the president of peace,” he told the US president. “No one else came close.”
Ohana said Israel would garner support for a nomination of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2026.
Trump’s address
The US President Donald Trump is addressing the Israeli Knesset before heading to a peace summit in Egypt.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not travel to the Gaza peace summit in Egypt on Monday, his office has said.
The announcement comes after Israeli media reports and a statement from the Egyptian presidency that he would attend.
A statement from Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister thanked US President Donald Trump for the invitation to Egypt but was not able to make the trip due to time constraints ahead of the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah (Joy of the Torah).
