Trump in Israel; sees hope for peace

He will be first US president to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem

TEL AVIV - US President Donald Trump landed in Tel Aviv on Monday, kicking off the second leg of his Middle East tour in Israel and the West Bank after a visit to Saudi Arabia.

When the presidential Air Force One plane touched the ground at the Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv just after noon, Trump was given an official welcoming ceremony with fanfares and an Israel Defense Forces soldiers' honorary guard.

The ceremony was also attended by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet ministers.

In a short statement session at the airport, Trump gave a speech, saying his visit to Saudi Arabia gave him "new reasons for hope" for peace in the Middle East.

"Let us build together a future where the nations of the region are at peace, and all our children can grow up strong and free from terrorism and violence," he said.

Trump arrived in Israel after concluding his Saudi visit, where he met on Sunday with King Salman and leaders of several Muslim countries. "In that visit, we reached a historic agreement to pursue greater and greater (cooperation) against terrorism," he said.

"We have before us a rare opportunity to bring security and stability and peace to this region and its people, defeating terrorism and creating a future of harmony prosperity and peace," he said.

"But we can only get there working together. There is no other way," he said, addressing the Israeli leaders.

Trump praised the "unbreakable bond" between Israel and the United States. "We love Israel, we respect Israel," he said.

Netanyahu said he hopes the "remarkable alliance between Israel and the US will become ever greater, ever stronger" under Trump's term in office.

From the airport, Trump was expected to continue to Jerusalem, where he will meet with Rivlin at the president's residence in Jerusalem.

His Monday itinerary includes a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in annexed East Jerusalem's Old City, from which he will continue by foot to the Western Wall, a nearby Jewish holy site, where he will be the first US president to visit the site.

The Western Wall sparked controversy ahead of Trump's arrival when US officials declined to allow Netanyahu join Trump's visit to the site, asserting it is not located in Israeli territory.

On Tuesday, Trump will go to Bethlehem to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Also on Tuesday, Trump is scheduled to give a speech at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem to conclude his visit, before heading to Europe.

Trump's first official visit will focus on reaffirming the alliance with Israel and his administration's efforts to revive the long-stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

The last round of talks reached an impasse on April 2014, mainly over Israel's refusal to halt the construction in the West Bank settlements.

Xinhua