MESOP NEWS – LIVE COVERAGE: Trump stresses Iranian threat in Jerusalem address / WATCH PICS & VIDEO

ByJPOST.COM STAFF – May 22, 2017 14:49 – JERUSALEM PLOST

After arriving in Jerusalem, the US president sits down for his first meeting with President Reuven Rivlin.

LIVE: Trump visit to Israel

US President Donald Trump arrived in Israel shortly after noon on Monday for a historic visit in the second leg of his whirlwind maiden foreign tour as president. Israel rolled out the red carpet for Trump at Ben-Gurion Airport, where the president is due to touch down on Air Force One after two days in Saudi Arabia.

LIVE UPDATES:
[3;24 p.m.] Jpost Correspondent Anna Ahronheim reveals some behind the scenes exchanges between the Israeli and American presidents
[3:20] As POTUS makes his way top the Old City, Jpost Editor-in-Chief Yaakov Katz weighs in on what we’ve heard from Trump so far

[3:15] President Trump departs from the President’s Residence en route to Jerusalem’s Old city, first to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and then to the Western Wall.  

[3:08 p.m.] US President Donald Trump puts Iran in the spotlight in Jerusalem address
“Iran must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapon, never ever”

[3:05 p.m.] Trump talks about prospects of peace between Israel and the Palestinians
US President Donald Trump: There is a growing realization among Arab neighbors that they have common cause with you.”
[3:01 p.m.] Trump Calls Israel an “amazing country” in address after meeting with President Rivlin.
Trump speaks out against terrorist groups and Iran “Together we can work to end the scourge of violence that has taken so many lives here in Israel and around the world,” said the President.

[2:58 p.m.] President Rivlin and Trump Deliver statements after one-on-one meeting

Rivlin begins by thanking Trump for his visit ” Mr. President, we are happy to see that America is back in the area. America is back again.”

He goes on to speak about the hope for peace: “I welcome your willingness to help us move forward. We want to move forward, and we must do it, together.”
[2:20 p.m.] Trump talks peace at the President’s Residence

Enough of the bloodshed and killing,” US President Donald Trump said during the event at President Reuven Rivlin’s official residence in Jerusalem.

He suggested that reigniting the peace process would be at the top of the trip’s agenda: “Being in Israel is very special. We expect to have some very interesting talks.”

[2:05 p.m.] Trump meets with Rivlin at the President’s Residence

Trump is holding a bilateral meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin after arriving in Jerusalem. Trump’s schedule for the day includes a visit at the Western Wall and a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before a festive dinner at the Prime Minister’s Residence.

[2:03 p.m.] More on that embarrassing “selfie” episode:

[2:01 p.m.] From Plane to chopper to armed Limo, President Trump goes to meet his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem
[1:51 p.m.] Marine One lands at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

[1:44 p.m.] In a move that is sure to go viral, Israeli MK Oren Hazan causes a national embarrassment at Trump’s reception

[1:33 p.m.]


[1:25 p.m.] President Trump boards “Marine One” helicopter that will take him to Jerusalem

Next Stop the President’s Residence: The rest of Trump’s delegation will drive in a convoy to the Israeli capital on the main highway that was shut down for the visit.


[1:20 p.m.]
Bennett to Trump: We hope you’ll be first president to recognize united Jerusalem

Education Minister Naftali Bennett greeted US President Donald Trump upon his arrival in Israel on Monday afternoon at an elaborate red carpet greeting ceremony at Ben-Gurion Airport. “Welcome to Israel Mr. President,” he told the American leader. “On the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, we hope that you will be the first president to recognize a united Jerusalem.

[1:10 p.m.] POTUS shakes hands with Israeli ministers “forced” to attend ceremony



[1:10 p.m.] Tillerson in Israel: Trump is ready to engage personally in Mideast peace

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Monday President Donald Trump was prepared to invest his personal efforts into Middle East peace if Israeli and Palestinian leaders were ready to be serious about engaging in the process.

Tillerson, speaking to reporters on Air Force One, said a three-way meeting between US, Israeli and Palestinian leaders was for a “later date” rather than on this trip.

[1:05 p.m.] Trump at Ben-Gurion Airport: ‘We love Israel, we respect Israel’

US President Donald Trump reaffirmed the “unbreakable bond between the US and the State of Israel” on Monday upon arriving in Israel during his first foreign trip in office. “We love Israel, we respect Israel, and we send your people the warmest greeting from your friend and ally – all of the people of the United States.”

[12:56 p.m.] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomes Donald Trump to Israel

[12:49 p.m.] President Trump reviews honor guard at Ben-Gurion Airport


[12:40 p.m.] US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump exit Air Force One


[12:39 p.m.] Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport for the welcome ceremony


[12:28 p.m.]  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara ready to meet US President Donald Trump at the bottom of the Air Force One staircase.


[12:25 p.m.] The Jerusalem Post’s Seth J. Frantzman reporting live from the Old City:

[12:25 p.m.] Police wrap up security preparations

Israeli Police confirmed that they are now done with heightened security preparations for Trump’s visit to the Western Wall this afternoon. All sites where Trump will be visiting have now been secured.

[12:23 p.m.] Air Force One lands in Ben-Gurion Airport, starting first official trip to Israel.

US President Donald Trump arrived in Israel on Monday shortly after noon as Air Force One touched down at Ben-Gurion Airport after departing earlier in the day from Saudi Arabia.


[12:05 p.m.] Here’s a useful pocket guide for the US
 President’s first day in Israel

[12:01 p.m.] The waiting game continues at Ben Gurion Airport

[12:00 p.m.] Members of the Harley Davidson club set out on a ride honoring US President Donald Trump as he arrives in Israel for the first time as sitting president.

They started the ride at 12:00 p.m. in Tel Aviv and finished it in front of the US Embassy, blocking traffic along HaYarkon Street in Tel Aviv as the ceremony welcoming Trump to Israel unfolded at Ben-Gurion Airport.

[11:56 a.m.] Waiting from the US President’s arrival, Israeli Minister Ofir Akounis speaks to Jpost Correspondent Sharon Udasin

[11:51 a.m.] Police now saying suspected car ramming was a traffic accident, not terror related.

[11:49 a.m.] Minister Ze’ev Elkin speaks to Jpost Correspondent Sharon Udasin

[11:36 a.m.] INITIAL REPORT :  A car has rammed into pedestrians in central Tel Aviv. Injured people on location. More details to come

[11:15 a.m.] Trump’s arrival in Israel delayed by half hour

US President Donald Trump is en route to Israel from Saudi Arabia, where he spent the first two days of his foreign trip. He is expected to arrive in the country at 12:45 p.m. and will be received in an official ceremony at the Ben-Gurion Airport. His landing has been postponed by thirty minutes, as he was initially expected to arrive at 12:15 p.m.

[11 a.m. ] Israel awaits Trump touchdown 
[9:30 a.m.] Trump leaves Saudi Arabia for Israel

US President Donald Trump departed from Saudi Arabia directly en route to Israel on Monday morning as part of his first foreign tour in office. 

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump board Air Force One to depart for Israel from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia May 22, 2017 (Reuters)

CLICK HERE to join the Jerusalem Post reporters in the conversation on Twitter

On Tuesday, Trump is scheduled to meet Abbas in Bethlehem, and immediately thereafter the US president is slated to return to Jerusalem for a very brief visit to Israel’s Holocaust Museum, Yad Vashem. From there Trump will head straight to the Israel Museum, where he is expected to make a speech with which his trip to the Middle East will conclude.

Trump arrives in the region amid repeated iterations of hope that he can help restart the frozen diplomatic process between Israel and the Palestinians. His arrival in the Holy Land also comes as all sides await to see if he will make any announcement on his campaign pledge to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Trump’s nine-day trip through the Middle East and Europe ends on Saturday after visits to the Vatican, Brussels and Sicily.

Daniel K. Eisenbud and Reuters contributed to this report.
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