Speaking from his home in Jerusalem Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nentanyahu welcomed President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania to the Holy City. The two leaders gave remarks about the issues facing the region and bolstered the strong alliance between the countries.
"We appreciate the reassertion of American
leadership in the Middle East," Netanyahu said, taking a swipe at the
previous administration. "For the first time in my lifetime, I see a real
hope for peace."
Netanyahu praised the President's recent action to bomb a
Syrian airbase in response to President Assad's chemical weapons attack and
applauded the administration's stance against Iran. He also noted new
partnerships forming in the Middle East among previous enemies in order to
fight the common threat of terrorism.
"Today we reaffirm the unbreakable bond of
friendship between Israel and the United States," Trump said. "We
want Israel to have peace."
"There are many, many things that can happen now
that would never have been able to happen before," he continued.
The President visited the Western Wall earlier in the day
and will visit Bethlehem with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas
Tuesday before speaking at the Israel Museum. He departs the country for
Brussels late Tuesday night.