Trump speaks of ‘rare opportunity’ for peace as he lands in Israel

US President Donald Trump (C), First Lady Melania Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2-L) and his wife Sara listen to the national anthem upon Trump’s arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv on 22 May 2017, as part of his first trip overseas - AFP 

AFP: US President Donald Trump arrived in Israel on Monday to seek ways to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace, speaking of a “rare opportunity” to bring stability to the turbulent region.

Trump’s visit is part of his first trip abroad as president and follows an initial stop in Saudi Arabia, where he urged Islamic leaders to confront extremism.

It also comes as he contends with a raft of problems back home, including a special counsel investigating whether his associates colluded with Russia.

Security was extremely tight, with Israeli police deploying some 10,000 officers. 

The alleys and passageways of Jerusalem’s ancient Old City, which Trump will visit later in the day, were essentially under lockdown.

Trump landed in Tel Aviv on Monday afternoon, welcomed by officials including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he walked along a red carpet ahead of a brief ceremony.

“On my first trip overseas as president, I have come to this sacred and ancient land to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between the United States and the state of Israel,” Trump said.

He said later: “We have before us a rare opportunity to bring security and stability and peace to this region and to its people, defeating terrorism and creating a future of harmony, prosperity and peace. But we can only get there working together. There is no other way.”

Ahead of talks with Netanyahu, Trump will tour two iconic sites in Jerusalem, a city holy to Muslims, Christians and Jews.

The first will be the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built at the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.

Afterwards, he is expected to become the first sitting US president to visit the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray and located in east Jerusalem.

The Western Wall visit drew controversy before Trump even left Washington, when US officials declined to say whether it belonged to Israel.

“Jerusalem was and will always be the capital of Israel,” Netanyahu said late Sunday, adding that the Western Wall “will always remain under Israeli sovereignty”.

The status of Jerusalem is ultra-sensitive and has been among the most difficult issues in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Israel occupied east Jerusalem and the West Bank in 1967 in moves never recognised by the international community.

It later annexed east Jerusalem and claims the entire city as its capital. The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.