TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (LC)
U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Israel today as his first diplomatic tour to the country. Donald Trump recently left Saudi Arabia, where he signed a multi-billion dollar trade deal.
Israel-US relationships have somewhat soured since President Trump recently released classified information to Russia gathered from Israeli intelligence. Still, some Israeli officials remained optimistic.
The Star of David & the Stars & Stripes are flying side by side #Israel is looking forward to welcoming @POTUS @realDonaldTrump @IsraelinUSA pic.twitter.com/5LZehrOBMi
— Reuven Rivlin (@PresidentRuvi) May 19, 2017
Mr. President, we look forward to your visit. The citizens of Israel will receive you with open arms pic.twitter.com/aYku5FWt5w
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 21, 2017
President Trump arrived Monday morning in Tel Aviv to a welcome ceremony, which, reportedly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered ministers to attend.
Prior to their scheduled press conference, Trump and Netanyahu addressed the press pool. Netanyahu praised the intelligence cooperation between Israel and the U.S. as “terrific,” prompting President Trump to say to the pool reporters, “Just so you understand, I never mentioned the word or the name Israel. Never mentioned it during that conversation. They were all saying I did. So you had another story wrong. Never mentioned the word Israel.” It has not been reported that President Trump openly credited Israel as the intel source.
President Trump on #Russia meeting: “I never mentioned the word or the name Israel. Never mentioned during that conversation." pic.twitter.com/G9p5uyzLg9
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 22, 2017
Trump and Netanyahu then spoke at a brief joint news conference. On his first trip abroad as President, Trump praised the “generosity” of the Israeli people, and reaffirmed the “unbreakable bond of friendship” between Israel and the United States. President Trump emphasized the desire for Israel to have a lasting peace. Trump also reaffirmed his position as to Iran, stating that Israel and the US must face the threat of “an Iranian regime that is threatening the region,” causing “so much violence and suffering.” Trump had earlier in the day voiced criticism of the Obama administration’s Iran deal.
Trump also focused on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, calling it “one of the toughest deals of all.” “They want to stop the killing, they’ve had enough,” Trump stressed, confirming that the U.S. will use all efforts to assist.
With @IsraeliPM Netanyahu, @POTUS gives remarks in Jerusalem.#POTUSAbroad pic.twitter.com/FlLZmVQEhZ
— Department of State (@StateDept) May 22, 2017
Trump earlier visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, home of what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus Christ, and stopped at the Western Wall, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to visit Judaism’s holiest site.
In Jerusalem for the second stop on #POTUSAbroad @POTUS visits Western Wall pic.twitter.com/VAmGbE9Pnq
— Kayleigh McEnany 45 Archived (@PressSec45) May 22, 2017
Trump has caused some dissension by not traveling to Masada, an ancient fortress of King Herod and the site of the first Jewish-Roman War, because he could not land his helicopter on the UNESCO heritage site. Trump also upset some Israelis after only scheduling approximately 15 minutes to visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial to Holocaust victims.
Simmy Allen, a spokesman for Yad Vashem, said, “He is taking the opportunity to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and to identify with the memory, which is meaningful.”
During his visit, Israeli authorities may pressure Donald Trump on the location of the US Embassy. Currently, the US Embassy is in Tel Aviv, but Donald Trump promised to move the embassy to Jerusalem during the campaign trail.
On Tuesday, Trump is scheduled to meet with the leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas. Tensions have been especially high due to a mass hunger strike of Palestinians in Israeli prisons. Mr. Abbas recently visited the White House.
#صور من استقبال الرئيس الأمريكي #دونالد_ترامب للسيد الرئيس #محمود_عباس اليوم. #MahmoudAbbas #DonaldTrump #POTUS #USA #Palestine @POTUS pic.twitter.com/SmoOxcmLXl
— Pres. Mahmoud Abbas (@president_abbas) May 3, 2017
U.S. National Security Advisor, H.R. McMaster, said that President Trump will “convey his administration’s eagerness to facilitate an agreement that ends the [Arab-Israeli] conflict,” and that Trump will “urge Palestinian leaders to take steps that will help lead to peace.”
A mere hour before the President’s arrival a car ramming incident had occurred. Motives remain clouded, thus sending the already tense security situation into overdrive.
J. David Thompson, Political Correspondent, Lima Charlie News (reporting from Tel Aviv)
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