WASHINGTON—‘’ President Donald J. Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Mr. President, this will be remembered by our people through the ages,’’ said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a joint statement before a meeting Monday in the White House with the US President.
‘’This is the first time we meet Washington, America’s capital, after you declared, Mr. President, Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. And this was a historic proclamation, followed by your bold decision to move the embassy by our upcoming national Independence Day,’’ he said.
The US announced it will open its embassy in Jerusalem in May to coincide with Israel’s 70th anniversary celebrations. President Trump said he is looking into attending the opening of the embassy.
“I may. I may,” he said. “We’re looking at coming. If I can, I will.”
Netanyahu compared Trump other leaders—from Cyrus the Great to President Harry Truman—who have had a major impact on the Jewish people.
‘’The Jewish people have a long memory, so we remember the proclamation of the great king, Cyrus the Great, Persian king 2,500 years ago. He proclaimed that the Jewish exiles in Babylon could come back and rebuild our Temple in Jerusalem. We remember a hundred years ago, Lord Balfour, who issued the Balfour Proclamation that recognized the rights of the Jewish people in our ancestral homeland. We remember 70 years ago, President Harry S. Truman was the first leader to recognize the Jewish state.’’
Netanyahu also addressed the Iranian threat, saying it is the “greatest challenge in the Middle East.”
“Iran has not given up its nuclear ambitions,” he said. “It came out of this nuclear deal emboldened, enriched. It’s practicing aggression everywhere, including on our own borders. And I think we have to stop this country that chants, ‘Death to Israel, death to America.’ Iran must be stopped. That is our common challenge.”
But he added that because of Iran, it is also important to “exploit the opportunities for peace” with the Palestinians.
“Because the Arabs have never been closer to Israel,” he said, and “Israel has never been closer to the Arabs. And we seek also to broaden that peace to the Palestinians.”
‘’I’ve been here for nearly four decades with, talking, seeking to build the American-Israel alliance. Under your leadership, it’s never been stronger,’’ the Israeli premier said.
In his statement, President Trump spoke about when his administration’s Middle East peace plan would be released, which has been under wraps for several months.
“We’re going to see. We’re working on it very hard. I think we have a very good chance,” he said. “The Palestinians, I think, are wanting to come back to the table. If they don’t, you won’t have peace.”