US President Donald Trump’s first visit to Israel, which includes family and a thousand person entourage, could include a speech at the ancient desert fortress Masada, something that’s in line with Trump’s grandiose style.

By i24NEWS

US President Donald Trump is considering delivering a speech from the ancient desert fortress of Masada during an upcoming visit to Israel, i24NEWS has learned.

A source told i24NEWS that some Israeli officials have expressed reservations over the choice of Masada for an address by a US President, but added that the site — an ancient fortress situated atop a 400 meter (1,300 foot) high rock cliff — seems in line with Trump’s grandiose style.

Israel’s Channel 2 news first reported that Trump was considering a speech from the Negev wonder, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it is yet to be confirmed whether the US president will make any address during his visit.

The source said that other likely stops could include the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, Knesset (Parliament), Western Wall and Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, as well as a possible visit to either Israel’s northern or southern border.

An official itinerary is expected to be released by Sunday or Monday next week.

Trump is expected to be accompanied by a massive entourage of one thousand people who will take over most of the hotels in western Jerusalem. His wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, and son-in-law Jared Kushner (who also serves as a middle east adviser) are planning to join him, the Ynet news website reported.

Trump is expected to arrive in Israel on May 22 as part of his first foreign tour since taking office.

The date coincides with the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem following the 1967 Six Day War, which will be commemorated in Israel beginning the evening of May 23 and the day of May 24.

Tower of David and courtyard in Jerusalem – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

The White House press secretary’s office said in a statement on Thursday that the trip will “further strengthen the United States-Israel partnership” and that Trump will meet with Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the prospect of advancing “a genuine and lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians,” as well as “a range of regional issues,” including “threats posed by Iran and its proxies, and by ISIS and other terrorist group.”

Both the White House and Palestinian Authority confirmed Thursday that Trump would also hold a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas during his visit to the region, without commenting on where the visit would take place.

“President Trump has also accepted the invitation of President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority to meet with him to discuss ways to advance peace between the Israelis and Palestinians, as well as efforts to unlock the potential of the Palestinian economy,” the White House statement said.

A senior aide did not rule out the possibility of a presidential stop in the West Bank, but said that it is likely to be contingent on security and Abbas taking concrete steps toward peace.

A senior Israeli official was cited by Haaretz as saying that the Trump-Abbas visit would be held in Bethlehem, where Trump would likely also visit the Church of the Nativity.

The decision to visit Israel and Saudi Arabia first is an unprecedented move from the presidential tradition of visiting either Canada or Mexico first.

View original i24NEWS publication at:
http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/politics/144428-170505-trump-s-israel-visit-could-include-speech-at-masada-and-1000-person-entourage