After revolt, ministers will get to shake Trump’s hand

Several of Israel’s cabinet ministers protested yesterday that there was no point to their showing up to the welcoming ceremony for US President Donald Trump set to begin in an hour.

They were just the “backdrop,” complained one minister at yesterday’s cabinet meeting, leading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the meeting early and angrily order the cabinet ministers to show up whether they like it or not.

This morning, the Prime Minister’s Office says Israeli and American officials have agreed that Trump will shake the hands of the Israeli ministers — so their attendance will not have been for naught.

Culture Minister Miri Regev explains the ministers’ annoyance in an Army Radio interview: “We don’t need to be there as scenery. It’s a four-hour wait, work hours, phone calls, mail, meetings, I have things to do in those four hours. To drag us there to stand as the scenery — that’s ugly. It’s beneath the dignity of the government of Israel and does not give any more respect to President Trump.”