During a trip to the Middle East aimed at initiating a peace agreement to halt the violence in Gaza, President Trump spoke to the Israeli parliament on Monday.
His address lasted over an hour, coinciding with street celebrations in Jerusalem following the release of 20 hostages taken during the October 2023 terrorist attack by Hamas.
Trump shared his vision for a peaceful Middle East and expressed strong support for Israel. Interestingly, he also weighed in on Israeli politics, which briefly stirred protests from two Congress members.
Here are five key takeaways from his speech.
Trump declares victory for Israel
In his address, Trump urged Israeli lawmakers to shift their attention from military actions in Gaza to peace and collaboration with neighboring countries.
“With our help, Israel has achieved everything it could by force. You’ve won. Now is the moment to convert these military victories into lasting peace and prosperity in the Middle East. It’s time for you to enjoy the fruits of your efforts,” he stated.
He noted that he advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his legacy would be defined more by a peace agreement than by ongoing military operations.
“If we continued fighting for several more years, conditions would worsen. Tensions would escalate,” Trump remarked. He suggested to Netanyahu, “You’re going to be remembered much more for pursuing peace than for endless conflict.”
The military actions in Gaza have attracted international scrutiny, with reports indicating significant Palestinian casualties and worsening humanitarian conditions.
While Trump has largely backed Israel’s military efforts publicly, he has expressed some concern over the crisis in Gaza.
Israeli officials used Trump’s statements to counter criticism of their military strategy. Opposition leader Yair Lapid insisted there was no genocide or intentional starvation, while Netanyahu criticized unnamed world leaders who, according to him, have fallen for Hamas’s propaganda.
Trump requests pardon for Netanyahu
In support of Netanyahu, Trump asked Israeli President Isaac Herzog to consider pardoning him to bypass trial on three charges: bribery, breach of trust, and fraud.
“Mr. President, why don’t you pardon him?” he asked directly. Trump then made light of the situation by joking about Netanyahu’s alleged acceptance of luxury gifts.
This isn’t Trump’s first call for a pardon for Netanyahu; he made a similar request back in June.
Netanyahu has faced criticism for continuing the military campaign against Hamas, which some see as politically motivated to maintain power and delay legal proceedings.
Lawmakers removed for protests
About 20 minutes into Trump’s speech, tension arose when two lawmakers were ejected from the chamber for holding signs and shouting “Recognize Palestine.”
Aymen Odeh and Ofer Kashif, both members of the Hadash coalition, were the protesters. Odeh later expressed on social media that recognizing a Palestinian state is a straightforward demand supported globally. Kashif reiterated that their protests were aimed at seeking justice against what he termed occupation and apartheid.
As they were removed, applause erupted from the remaining members.
Trump resumed his speech, quipping, “That was very effective.”
Protests regarding Gaza have been frequent during the 2024 Democratic events, yet Trump has not experienced similar disruptions during his appearances.
Trump extends a hand to Iran
In a notable shift, Trump adopted a more conciliatory stance towards future interactions with Iran, considering the broader context of Israel-Iran relations.
“We extend our hands of friendship and cooperation to Iran, despite their government’s impact on the region,” he remarked. “They want to negotiate a deal.”
Trump recounted past military operations that targeted Iranian leaders and facilities, and he criticized Obama’s Iran nuclear agreement. Nonetheless, he returned to the notion that a cooperative relationship could be beneficial for both the region and the Iranian populace.
“There would be nothing better than for Iran’s leadership to abandon terrorism, cease threats to their neighbors, and recognize Israel’s right to exist,” Trump stated.
He mentioned a willingness to negotiate, echoing similar sentiments from his May trip to Saudi Arabia about Iran, linking negotiations to possible consequences of “maximum pressure.”
Trump praises opposition leader, tells Netanyahu to ‘be nicer’
While addressing Netanyahu’s legal issues, Trump unexpectedly complimented opposition leader Yair Lapid, calling him a “good man” and suggesting Netanyahu should take a more reconciliatory approach post-war.
This comment highlighted the complicated dynamics between Trump and Netanyahu, especially since Netanyahu recognized Biden’s election victory in 2020, which had earlier irked Trump.
Before his address, Trump discussed their relationship, admitting that while dealing with Netanyahu can be challenging, they often resolve their differences quickly.
Regarding Netanyahu, Trump remarked, “He is not an easy man to deal with. That’s part of his appeal.”
