Trump says more Middle Eastern nations may join Abraham Accords

TEL AVIV: US President Donald Trump has said that several Middle Eastern nations were interested in joining the Abraham Accords

“Those who have joined the accords so far have done unbelievably well”, trump said a speech to the Israeli Knesset on Monday.  

He praised the Abraham Accords as exceeding expectations, with continued interest from additional countries, though he did not name them, only hinting “manty of these countries will be in Egypt”.

He also criticized former US presidents Obama and Biden for inaction while praising his own administration’s successes in strengthening ties between Israel and Arab nations. He spoke of transforming the land into a thriving region and declared the potential era of peace for the Middle East.

Trump calls for Iran denuclearization
He warned that Iran was two months away from acquiring nuclear weapons, justifying the June 2025 strikes on Iranian nuclear sites by US B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.

Trump said he was aiming for a peace deal with Iran. “They got it from one side, from the other, and you know it would be great if we could make a peace deal with them,” he told Israel’s parliament. “Would you be happy with that? Wouldn't it be nice, I think. Because I think they want to”, he said.

Trump added that any agreement depends on Iran’s willingness. “We're ready when you are,” he said.

He defended his decision to end the Iran nuclear deal, calling it a move he was “very proud” of. “Yet even to Iran, whose regime has inflicted so much death on the Middle East, the hand of friendship and cooperation is open,” he said. “They want to make a deal and we're going to see if we can do something.”

He stated that neither the United States nor Israel bore hostility toward the Iranian people, saying, “We merely want to live in peace.”

Trump also criticized former presidents Obama and Biden for their Middle East policies, claiming they did not support Israel as strongly. He said Obama “chose Iran over lots of good countries, especially Israel,” and called the Iran nuclear deal “a disaster,” despite Netanyahu’s efforts to prevent it.

Disarming regional threats
Trump announced that the “dagger of Hezbollah” has been shattered and pledged his administration’s support for Lebanon’s president in disarming Hezbollah. He called the recent ceasefire "the most challenging breakthrough in the world," highlighting scenes of people dancing in the streets to celebrate peace.

He described the current moment as historic, marking the end of a long, difficult road spanning centuries, with regional support for the plan, Hezbollah demilitarized, and Hamas disarmed.

Vision for a “peaceful” Middle East
Trump said Israel, with US help, has achieved all military objectives and it is now time for peace and prosperity in the Middle East. He praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (“Bibi”) as “a nice man” and urged Middle Eastern leaders to embrace the peace plan fully.

He said that antisemitism and support for terrorism that endured for decades has come to an end.

Call for Palestinian reform
Trump urged Palestinians to expel “wicked forces” and focus on rebuilding after tremendous death and pain. He outlined plans for the stability and economic development of Gaza, mentioning the formation of the “Board of Peace” to oversee reconstruction.

Wealthy ME nations reportedly commit to Gaza rebuilding
He thanked wealthy Arab and Muslim countries committing significant funds to Gaza’s rebuilding and noted upcoming meetings in Egypt with these countries. However, he was careful not to name them.

“I wanna thank Arab and Muslim countries for their support, they are wealthy countries, we will put up tremendous amount of money, we will build Gaza.
“I don’t wanna say who they are but what they are doing is, they wanna see the good, the good for Israel. [And] the kind money they have, for these countries its relatively little compared to their worth”.

Promoting partnership
Trump said regional countries should be partners, not enemies, and stand together against “forces of chaos”. Trump called for building a future focusing on innovation, medicine, and AI instead of weapons.

Praise for Israel’s strength and heritage
Trump expressed strong support for Israel, calling it a strong nation that will endure forever. “The state of Israel is strong, it will live forever”.

He stated that the US always supported Israel since its inception due to “sharing similar values” with the US. He hailed “Israel’s military” and “innovative economy”, calling Jerusalem the “ancient capital” of the occupying regime.

He also talked about the region's significance for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He described the coexistence of people of all faiths in the sacred land as a “modern miracle”.

Trump urges pardon for Netanyahu
The US President told the Israeli parliament that Netanyahu, facing trial in three corruption cases, should be ‘pardoned.’

He dismissed allegations of accepting luxury gifts worth over $260,000 as trivial, calling Netanyahu one of Israel’s greatest wartime leaders. Addressing Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Trump suggested granting Netanyahu a pardon, adding he personally supports the prime minister.

Legacy of ‘peace’, ‘hope’, and ‘prosperity’
Trump promised to build a legacy across the region—from the Middle East, to India, Pakistan, Turkey, and Azerbaijan—of hope and prosperity.

He called the Middle East the geographic center of the world and expressed his vision for Israel, the US, and Middle Eastern nations to become stronger and more prosperous together.

Russian peace deal
Trump was positive about securing a peace deal involving Russia and Ukraine following his success with securing a Gaza ceasefire. He expressed confidence that it will be achieved soon. “We will get it done”, he stated.

The speech was delivered amid the backdrop of a recent Gaza ceasefire, the return of hostages, and ongoing peace negotiations.

The conservative president’s remarks were met with applause in the Knesset.

With input from the AFP.