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LIVE: Donald Trump in Israel

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LIVE: Donald Trump in Israel
The US president is now in Israel after two days in Saudi Arabia. MEE reports on the latest
  • Donald Trump is on his first visit to the Middle East as US president
  • On Monday he met the Israeli president, Reuven Rivlin, visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem and held talks with Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu
  • On Tuesday Trump will visit the occupied West Bank for talks with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas

Live Updates

6 years ago

Trump is currently visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in East Jerusalem, where Christians believe Jesus was buried and resurrected. 

Israeli newspaper Haaretz has highlighted that Trump is the first sitting US president to visit a Christian holy site before a Jewish holy site, while in Israel and the occupied territories. 

Donald and Melania Trump visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Monday (AFP)

6 years ago

In West Jerusalem, Trump and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin stressed the threat of Iran. 

Trump said that Iran must 'cease immediately' its funding, training and equipping of "terrorists and militias".

US President Donald Trump and Israel's President Reuven Rivlin shake hands following a press conference at the president's residence in West Jerusalem (AFP)

"Most importantly the United States and Israel can declare with one voice that Iran must never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon - never ever - and must cease its deadly funding, training and equipping of terrorists and militias," Trump said in remarks at Rivlin's residence.

"And it must cease immediately."

6 years ago

Having arrived from Saudi Arabia to Israel on Monday morning, Trump appeared to be suffering from jet-lag, as he reportedly told his Israeli counterpart Rivlin that he had just arrived "back" from the Middle East. 

6 years ago

Trump's Monday morning flight from Saudi Arabia to Israel is thought to be the first of its kind. 

A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel told AFP he was not aware of any flight taking that course before.

But it's possible that private flights have taken place. 

A government official told Haaretz he was not aware of any such flight having taken place before, but stressed, at least not one in "broad daylight" or in view of the press. 

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump board Air Force One to depart for Israel from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Monday morning (Reuters)

Israel has no diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia despite informal ties on certain levels, particularly around shared concerns over Iran. 

Egypt and Jordan are the only two Arab countries to have signed peace deals with Israel.

Israeli citizens, however, can travel to Saudi Arabia and thousands of Muslims attend the annual hajj pilgrimage there, flying with stopovers in neighbouring countries.

Speaking at Trump's reception, Netanyahu said he hoped one day an Israeli PM would be able to make the reverse flight, from Tel Aviv to Riyadh. 

6 years ago

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will present a plan that would see the Palestinians giving up 6.5 percent of their lands to Israel, three times as much as previously offered, MEE reported on Sunday.

The proposal excludes Jerusalem and appears to cement the vision of former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert for a Palestinian-Israeli peace settlement, a Palestinian official close to the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) told Middle East Eye.

EXCLUSIVE: Abbas to offer large land swap with Israel in Trump talks
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"The Palestinian side will be presenting [during the meeting with Trump] a new vision which is quite detached from that of the majority of the Palestinian people," the source told MEE. "This vision is based on exchanging a lot of Palestinian lands.

"Previous discussions about a Palestinian-Israeli settlement revolved around the exchange of only 1.9 percent of the lands, but now we are talking about more than triple that amount," said the source.

Speaking with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Monday, Trump also said he was looking forward to discussing the peace process with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whom he is due to meet in Bethlehem on Tuesday morning. 

"I thank both you and PM Netanyahu for your commitment to achieving peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. I also look forward to discussing the peace process with President Abbas."

6 years ago

Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife Sara, who has been the subject of many controversies, often involving spending, appeared to attempt to endear Melania Trump to her, by saying “the media hates us but the people love us, just like you,” according to a Haaretz journalist. 

But Melania seemed perhaps distracted, apparently batting away her husband's attempt to hold hands...  

https://twitter.com/ChristpherTracy/status/866606205518491648
6 years ago

Prior to Trump's arrival, Israel had agreed to certain economic measures for the Palestinians, something the American president had requested. 

"The security cabinet has approved economic measures that will ease daily civilian life in the Palestinian Authority after [Trump] who arrives tomorrow, asked to see some confidence building steps," the cabinet statement said.

Israel approves economic 'concessions' for Palestinians
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The measures included the building of two new industrial zones in Palestinian areas and the easing of permits for Palestinian house construction in the 60 percent of the West Bank under full Israeli control. The Allenby Bridge crossing into Jordan would also be kept open 24 hours a day.

But Netanyahu's security cabinet also voted to examine legalising Jewish settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank.

6 years ago

Trump, due to be the first sitting US president to visit the Western Wall, publicly declined an offer from Netanyahu to accompany him on his visit to the holy site, Al Jazeera has reported.

Israel wants US to explain official's Western Wall comment
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Netanyahu’s team had earlier asked if the Israeli PM could join Trump, to which a US diplomat replied that the trip was private.

The US official reportedly said Israel did not have jurisdiction in the area and that Netanyahu was not welcome to accompany Trump there.

6 years ago

Speaking at Trump's reception, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he hoped one day an Israeli premier can fly to Saudi Arabia. "Mr President, you just flew from Riyadh, to Tel Aviv. I hope that one day an Israeli PM will be able to fly from Tel Aviv to Riyadh."

"May your first trip to our region prove to be a historic milestone on the path towards reconciliation and peace," Netanyahu said.

Trump and Netanyahu speak at the airport reception (AFP)

6 years ago

Amid high security, a car ramming in Tel Aviv has injured three people, hours before Trump was due to land, according to Israeli media. 

Police said it was not yet clear if it was a deliberate attack, and the suspect is in custody, the Times of Israel reported.