Prime Minister Netanyahu delivers a statement, saying his visit is “truly historic.”
“Never before has the first foreign trip of the president of the United States included a visit to Israel,” he says. “Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for this powerful expression of your friendship to Israel.
“Mr. President, yesterday in Saudi Arabia you delivered a forceful speech on terrorism and extremism, called on forces of civilization to confront the forces of barbarism. For 69 years, Israel has been doing just that. We’ve manned the front-lines of civilization.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement after welcoming US President Donald Trump at Ben Gurion Airport on Monday, May 22, 2017 (screen capture: GPO)
“In doing so we’ve protected all faiths, Muslims, Christians, everyone,” Netanyahu continues. “Throughout the Middle East, Christian communities are decimated. We’re proud to have a growing, flourishing Christian community.
“Israel’s hand is extended in peace to all our neighbors, including the Palestinians. The peace we seek is a genuine one, in which the Jewish state is recognized, security remains in Israel’s hands, and the conflict ends once and for all.
“Mr. President, you just flew from Riyadh to Tel Aviv,” he says. “I hope that one day an Israeli prime minister can fly from Tel Aviv to Riyadh.”
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, May 22, 2017
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