Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lavished praise on US President Donald Trump during a special address to Israel ’s parliament, the Knesset, on Monday, calling him “the greatest friend that the State of Israel has ever had in the White House”.
The Israeli leader thanked Trump for a series of key decisions that he said transformed Israel’s security and diplomatic landscape, even as the two leaders marked the end of two years of war and looked to the future of a fragile ceasefire.
Netanyahu also announced that he had nominated Trump for the Israel Prize, the country’s highest civilian honour, citing his “pivotal leadership” in supporting Israel during war and in pushing forward peace proposals. The nomination comes as Trump made a high-profile visit to Israel, where he was greeted with a rousing standing ovation from lawmakers before delivering his own address.
Trump greeted with standing ovation at Knesset
President Donald Trump received an extended standing ovation from members of the Knesset as he entered the chamber to deliver his remarks. Lawmakers applauded and cheered as the US president took his place, with Netanyahu calling him “a dear friend of the Jewish people”.
Trump’s visit comes at a sensitive moment. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on Friday after two years of war. The deal included the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages. Later stages of the ceasefire are still being negotiated, but the first set of hostages has already been received by the Israeli Defence Forces.
Also read: 'Recognise Palestine': Protesters interrupt Trump's address in Israel parliament - Watch
Netanyahu: ‘I am committed to this peace’
In his address, Netanyahu told parliament that he was “committed to this peace”, marking what he described as a significant moment in the Jewish calendar.
He said: “Today, the Jewish calendar marks the end of two years of war.” He reiterated his government’s commitment to securing peace, telling Trump directly, “You are committed to this peace, I am committed to this peace … we will achieve this peace.”
Netanyahu added that “no one wants peace more than the people of Israel”, in a pointed message that combined optimism about the ceasefire with a pledge to defend Israel’s security interests.
Five key decisions Netanyahu thanked Trump for
Netanyahu used part of his speech to outline what he described as five transformative decisions taken by the Trump administration that had bolstered Israel’s position in the region. Speaking first in Hebrew and then switching to English, he addressed Trump directly in the chamber.
“This is your first visit to Israel since you recognized Jerusalem as our capital and moved the embassy here,” Netanyahu said. “Thank you for recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.”
He went on: “Thank you for standing up to the lies against Israel in the United Nations .”
“Thank you for recognizing in your 2020 peace plan our rights in Judea and Samaria, the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people,” he added, referring to the occupied West Bank.
Finally, he thanked Trump for his administration’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and for “supporting” Israeli military operations against Iran.
“This is only a partial list, but it’s enough to affirm what I’ve said time and again – Donald Trump is the greatest friend that the State of Israel has ever had in the White House ,” Netanyahu told lawmakers.
Netanyahu hails Trump’s role in hostage deal
Netanyahu credited Trump with playing an indispensable role in securing the release of Israeli hostages during the war.
"At the beginning of the war, I promised to bring all the hostages home. Today, with the indispensable help, the determined and focus help, the unremitting help of President Trump ... and with the incredible sacrifice and courage of the soldiers of Israel, we are fulfilling that promise," he said, with Trump looking on.
"Two weeks ago, you succeeded in doing something miraculous, you succeeded in doing something that no one believed was possible: you brought most of the Arab world -- you brought most of the world -- behind your proposal to free the hostages and end the war," he continued.
"I've seen a lot of American presidents ... I’ve never seen anyone move the world so quickly, so decisively, so resolutely as our friend President Donald J. Trump," Netanyahu added.
Netanyahu nominates Trump for Israel Prize
In one of the most striking moments of the session, Netanyahu announced that he had nominated Trump for the Israel Prize, the country’s highest civilian honour.
Israel has also formally endorsed Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize next year. “There is no one more deserving than you, Mr President,” Netanyahu said.
The move underscores the Israeli leader’s close alignment with Trump, whose decisions during his previous presidency remain deeply influential in Israel’s foreign policy and domestic discourse.
Also read: No Nobel? No problem. Netanyahu nominates Israel's 'greatest friend' Donald Trump for country's highest award
Netanyahu to skip Egypt peace summit
While praising Trump’s efforts to broker peace, Netanyahu confirmed that he would not be attending the international peace summit scheduled for Monday in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu thanked Trump for the invitation but said he would be unable to participate “due to the proximity of the holiday”. Monday night to Wednesday night marks the Jewish holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
"The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his efforts to expand the circle of peace - peace through strength," the office said.
The Egyptian presidency had earlier said that both Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas were expected to attend. The summit, co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and President Trump, will bring together leaders from more than 20 countries. It aims “to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security and stability."
Netanyahu: ‘No American president has ever done more for Israel’
Netanyahu reiterated his admiration for Trump’s role in supporting Israel, telling the Knesset: “No American president has ever done more for Israel” than Donald Trump.
He credited Trump’s peace proposal with winning the backing of “the entire world”. Speaking in the chamber, he said, "President Trump, we welcome you here to thank you for your pivotal leadership for the proposal that got the backing of the entire world. A proposal that brings all our hostages home. A proposal that ends the war by meeting all our objectives..."
The Israeli leader thanked Trump for a series of key decisions that he said transformed Israel’s security and diplomatic landscape, even as the two leaders marked the end of two years of war and looked to the future of a fragile ceasefire.
Netanyahu also announced that he had nominated Trump for the Israel Prize, the country’s highest civilian honour, citing his “pivotal leadership” in supporting Israel during war and in pushing forward peace proposals. The nomination comes as Trump made a high-profile visit to Israel, where he was greeted with a rousing standing ovation from lawmakers before delivering his own address.
Trump greeted with standing ovation at Knesset
President Donald Trump received an extended standing ovation from members of the Knesset as he entered the chamber to deliver his remarks. Lawmakers applauded and cheered as the US president took his place, with Netanyahu calling him “a dear friend of the Jewish people”.
Trump’s visit comes at a sensitive moment. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on Friday after two years of war. The deal included the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages. Later stages of the ceasefire are still being negotiated, but the first set of hostages has already been received by the Israeli Defence Forces.
Also read: 'Recognise Palestine': Protesters interrupt Trump's address in Israel parliament - Watch
Netanyahu: ‘I am committed to this peace’
In his address, Netanyahu told parliament that he was “committed to this peace”, marking what he described as a significant moment in the Jewish calendar.
He said: “Today, the Jewish calendar marks the end of two years of war.” He reiterated his government’s commitment to securing peace, telling Trump directly, “You are committed to this peace, I am committed to this peace … we will achieve this peace.”
Netanyahu added that “no one wants peace more than the people of Israel”, in a pointed message that combined optimism about the ceasefire with a pledge to defend Israel’s security interests.
Five key decisions Netanyahu thanked Trump for
Netanyahu used part of his speech to outline what he described as five transformative decisions taken by the Trump administration that had bolstered Israel’s position in the region. Speaking first in Hebrew and then switching to English, he addressed Trump directly in the chamber.
“This is your first visit to Israel since you recognized Jerusalem as our capital and moved the embassy here,” Netanyahu said. “Thank you for recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.”
He went on: “Thank you for standing up to the lies against Israel in the United Nations .”
“Thank you for recognizing in your 2020 peace plan our rights in Judea and Samaria, the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people,” he added, referring to the occupied West Bank.
Finally, he thanked Trump for his administration’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and for “supporting” Israeli military operations against Iran.
“This is only a partial list, but it’s enough to affirm what I’ve said time and again – Donald Trump is the greatest friend that the State of Israel has ever had in the White House ,” Netanyahu told lawmakers.
Netanyahu hails Trump’s role in hostage deal
Netanyahu credited Trump with playing an indispensable role in securing the release of Israeli hostages during the war.
"At the beginning of the war, I promised to bring all the hostages home. Today, with the indispensable help, the determined and focus help, the unremitting help of President Trump ... and with the incredible sacrifice and courage of the soldiers of Israel, we are fulfilling that promise," he said, with Trump looking on.
"Two weeks ago, you succeeded in doing something miraculous, you succeeded in doing something that no one believed was possible: you brought most of the Arab world -- you brought most of the world -- behind your proposal to free the hostages and end the war," he continued.
"I've seen a lot of American presidents ... I’ve never seen anyone move the world so quickly, so decisively, so resolutely as our friend President Donald J. Trump," Netanyahu added.
Netanyahu nominates Trump for Israel Prize
In one of the most striking moments of the session, Netanyahu announced that he had nominated Trump for the Israel Prize, the country’s highest civilian honour.
#WATCH | Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu nominates US President Donald Trump for the Israel Prize, Israel's highest prize
— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2025
Source: U.S Network Pool via Reuters pic.twitter.com/CJD6Zz90R0
Israel has also formally endorsed Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize next year. “There is no one more deserving than you, Mr President,” Netanyahu said.
The move underscores the Israeli leader’s close alignment with Trump, whose decisions during his previous presidency remain deeply influential in Israel’s foreign policy and domestic discourse.
Also read: No Nobel? No problem. Netanyahu nominates Israel's 'greatest friend' Donald Trump for country's highest award
Netanyahu to skip Egypt peace summit
While praising Trump’s efforts to broker peace, Netanyahu confirmed that he would not be attending the international peace summit scheduled for Monday in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu thanked Trump for the invitation but said he would be unable to participate “due to the proximity of the holiday”. Monday night to Wednesday night marks the Jewish holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
"The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his efforts to expand the circle of peace - peace through strength," the office said.
The Egyptian presidency had earlier said that both Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas were expected to attend. The summit, co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and President Trump, will bring together leaders from more than 20 countries. It aims “to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security and stability."
Netanyahu: ‘No American president has ever done more for Israel’
Netanyahu reiterated his admiration for Trump’s role in supporting Israel, telling the Knesset: “No American president has ever done more for Israel” than Donald Trump.
He credited Trump’s peace proposal with winning the backing of “the entire world”. Speaking in the chamber, he said, "President Trump, we welcome you here to thank you for your pivotal leadership for the proposal that got the backing of the entire world. A proposal that brings all our hostages home. A proposal that ends the war by meeting all our objectives..."
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