BICOM

The leaders of Israel and the US reaffirmed the unbreakable bond between the two countries in speeches during the US President’s first visit to Israel.

US President Donald Trump arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport yesterday afternoon, in the first ever direct flight from Riyadh to Tel Aviv.

Upon the President’s arrival, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told President Trump that “your visit here, Mr. President, is truly historic,” and that “never before has the first foreign trip of a president of the US included a visit to Israel. Thank you for this powerful expression of your friendship to Israel”.

In response, President Trump told delegates at the welcoming ceremony: “I have come to this sacred and ancient land to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between the United States and the State of Israel.”

The two leaders met again in the afternoon at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. The meeting concentrated on regional security and the prospect for restarting the dormant peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

In a statement regarded as a swipe at President Trump’s predecessor, Prime Minister Netanyahu said: “I want you to know how much we appreciate the change in American policy on Iran… your bold decision to act against the use of chemical weapons in Syria. And I want to tell you also how much we appreciate the reassertion of American leadership in the Middle East.”

He added: “I also look forward to working closely with you to advance peace in our region, because you have noted so succinctly that common dangers are turning former enemies into partners… the Arab leaders who you met yesterday could help change the atmosphere and they could help create the conditions for a realistic peace.”

President Trump spoke of the willingness of the Arab leaders, who were at the Riyadh summit that Trump attended on Sunday, to take steps toward normalising ties with Israel as well as advancing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

He said: “These leaders voiced concerns we all share – about ISIS, about Iran’s rising ambitions and rolling back its gains … I believe that a new level of partnership is possible and will happen. This includes a renewed effort at peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.”