Trump praises Witkoff as ‘Henry Kissinger who doesn’t leak’ in speech to Knesset

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

White House Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is recognized by President Donald Trump during his speech to the Knesset, Israel's parliament, Monday, October 13, 2025, in Jerusalem, as Lauren Rappoport watches. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)
White House Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is recognized by President Donald Trump during his speech to the Knesset, Israel's parliament, Monday, October 13, 2025, in Jerusalem, as Lauren Rappoport watches. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)

US President Donald Trump praises special envoy Steve Witkoff’s negotiating prowess and personability.

Trump calls Witkoff “Henry Kissinger who doesn’t leak.”

The Knesset gives Witkoff a standing ovation after Trump tells a long story about Witkoff’s work negotiating with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Moving on to his son-in-law Jared Kushner, he says he didn’t know his daughter Ivanka, Kushner’s wife, was going to convert to Judaism. “And Bibi, you do know this was not in the cards for me, you understand that,” says Trump.

He praises Kushner for being the architect of the Abraham Accords, this time using the proper Hebrew pronunciation after falling short last month in Washington. “Avraham, it’s so cool. So much, sorta, nicer. The Abraham, versus the Avraham.”

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