Speaking on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport, President Trump says he has come to “this sacred and ancient land to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between the US and Israel.”
Trump said he was “deeply grateful” for the invitation to visit Israel, and “very, very honored” to be there.
“We have before us a rare opportunity to bring safety and security to this region,” he said, but “we can only get there working together — there is no other way.”
Speaking earlier, Israeli PM Netanyahu welcomed Trump on what he called a “truly historic” visit, which he viewed as a “powerful expression of your friendship.”
Netanyahu gave his support to Trump’s call for nations to do more to fight terrorism during his visit to Saudi Arabia at the weekend.
“Israel shares the commitment to peace that you made yesterday,” he said. “The peace we seek is genuine and durable, in which the Jewish state is recognized, security remains in Israel’s hands, and the conflict ends once and for all.”
“I hope this trip is a step on the path toward reconciliation and peace.”
