Israeli Deputy FM Haskell praises Trump — ‘he gets it’ — after he honors hostages at National Prayer Breakfast
WATCH VIDEO: MK Sharren Haskel speaks exclusively to ALL ISRAEL NEWS
WASHINGTON — Addressing 4,200 world leaders, faith leaders, and business leaders from more than 120 countries at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning, President Donald J. Trump spoke more about Israel than any other nation.
The President spoke at the Washington Hilton about his compassion for the 251 Israelis, Americans, and other innocent souls that were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th, 2023 and dragged into the terroir tones of Gaza that he has described as “hell holes.”
Trump spoke of his gratitude for the recent deal that his team — led by special envoy Steve Witkoff — struck to get all the hostages out.
Trump also praised the courage and resilience of those hostages, including Noa Argamani, the young Israeli woman who was brutally captured by Hamas terrorists on that wicked day but then dramatically rescued by Israeli special forces and returned to her family in June.
Miss Argamani was in attendance at the breakfast and Trump asked her to stand and be recognized.
The audience, including thousands of Evangelical Christians and a dozen Israeli Knesset members and diplomats, immediately erupted in deafening applause.
After the breakfast, I walked with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel to an SUV that would take us to meetings on Capitol Hill.
Haskell is at the National Prayer Breakfast for the first time.
Last night, she spoke here at the Hilton at a special dinner of Evangelical and Jewish leaders that ALL ISRAEL NEWS and The Joshua Fund helped organize.
I asked the Deputy Foreign Minister for her reaction to Trump’s address.
Here are her comments, lightly edited for clarity.
ROSENBERG: Sharren Haskell, you're the Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel. You're here at the National Prayer Breakfast. It's your first time. The President of United States just spent a lot of time talking about Israel, the hostages. What were your thoughts? You just came out of the room.
DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER HASKELL: I think it was absolutely incredible. I cannot explain how much strength it gives us for the Israelis who have gone through the worst year and a quarter in half in our lives to hear the President of the United States speaking like that, addressing the issues in the Middle East, talking about stability, about peace. This is what we need right now. This is the type of attitude, the words, that the world needs, the Middle East in particular, after such a difficult year. And I pray to God that his actions are going to create a safer and more peaceful and more stable and more prosperous Middle East for us and for our neighbors.
ROSENBERG: You're striking me as even a little bit emotional as you’re coming out of that speech. I mean, you know, I don't want to be too personal, but you seem like you were touched in some in a deeper way than a normal political speech.
DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER HASKELL: Absolutely, absolutely. I think he touches everybody’s heart. After a very difficult year that we've been through, you know, we — during these times — we find who our true allies and our true friends are. And the President is a true friend of the State of Israel. He's a true friend of the people in the Middle East. He gets it. He understands that stability is the greatest enemy of radical Islam. And the more stability, the more economic prosperity that there will be, the safer our children are going to be. And that's what is on our minds — our children and the future generations.
ROSENBERG: As we head to Capitol Hill, what are your reactions about Noa Argamani — one of the most famous of the hostages who were released [rescued] — being here at the National Prayer Breakfast and honored by President Trump.
DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER HASKELL: It was very touching. Noa went through hell, and she's now fighting to bring back her partner [boyfriend] from that place, from the dungeons of terror of Gaza. President Trump recognizing her and her mission and everything that she's been through was absolutely incredible. And it’s testament of [Trump’s] true understanding of what Israel has been through, what the hostages are going through, and his commitment to bring them back home.
Joel C. Rosenberg is the editor-in-chief of ALL ISRAEL NEWS and ALL ARAB NEWS and the President and CEO of Near East Media. A New York Times best-selling author, Middle East analyst, and Evangelical leader, he lives in Jerusalem with his wife and sons.
