Trump Comes to Israel Citing a Palestinian Deal as Crucial -
By PETER BAKER and IAN FISHERMAY 22, 2017
JERUSALEM — President Trump began a two-day visit to Israel on Monday with a blunt assessment for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
If Israel really wants peace with its Arab neighbors, the cost will be resolving the generations-old standoff with the Palestinians.
We were very pleased that the president showed he is trying to break the impasse.”
Mr. Trump arrived on what was believed to be the first open, direct flight to Israel from Saudi Arabia, which do
not have diplomatic relations, a sign of the possibility he sees for what he has called “the ultimate deal.”
After meeting with Reuven Rivlin, who holds the largely ceremonial position of president of Israel, the president
toured the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, home of what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus Christ.
Among other things, Mr. Trump last week disclosed to Russia’s foreign minister and ambassador some classified information
that came from Israel about an Islamic State plot, potentially jeopardizing the Israeli intelligence source and deeply angering some Israeli security officials.
King Salman feels very strongly and, I can tell you, would love to see peace with Israel and the Palestinians.”
Mr. Trump added that line to the remarks prepared for him, in effect tying the future of the anti-Iran
coalition to the Palestinian issue despite Mr. Netanyahu’s longtime efforts to unlink the two.