US President Donald Trump praised his daughter, Ivanka Trump for her love of Israel and her conversion to Judaism while delivering a speech at the Israeli Knesset on Monday.Trump was speaking following the return of hostages from Gaza and was being celebrated for his role in the deal. “Let me also give a special thanks to someone who truly loves Israel, in fact, loves it so much that…my daughter converted [to Judaism],” Trump said. “I didn’t know this was going to happen…and Bibi, you do know this wasn’t in the cards for me, you do understand that. She is so happy and they are so happy…they have a great marriage, and they get along great. They are best friends. They have a very special relationship.”Ivanka, who accompanied her father and husband Jared Kushner to Israel, converted to Judaism before marrying Kushner in 2009. Kushner has also played a key role in ending the Gaza war and securing the release of hostages. Trump thanked him in his speech for his efforts in both the peace deal and establishing the Abraham Accords.Trump told the Knesset that the day was one to “give thanks to the almighty God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” He also marked the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire, calling it an end to a “long nightmare” for both Israelis and Palestinians. “The forces of chaos that have plagued the region are totally defeated,” he said.The MAGA supremo received a standing ovation from members of the Knesset, though he was briefly interrupted by two left-wing politicians who were removed from the room. Trump continued, saying his administration would now turn its attention to ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.Ivanka’s journey to Judaism began under Rabbi Haskel Lookstein of the Modern Orthodox Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in New York, reports the Jerusalem Post. In a 2015 Vogue profile, she said she had “always shied away from it being a public conversation because it’s such a personal thing.”Trump has publicly expressed pride in Ivanka’s decision to live a Jewish life. Ahead of the birth of one of her children in 2016, he announced she was “about to have a beautiful Jewish baby.” Ivanka has visited Israel several times, including trips to the Western Wall with Melania Trump and, recently, with Kushner and US Envoy Steve Witkoff, where she prayed for the success of her father’s 20-point Gaza peace plan.
