Family Prayer at the Western Wall (on the Men’s side). Read more about the History of the Western Wall.
In an interview with Israel Hayom Editor-in-Chief, Boaz Bismuth at the White house last week, Trump was asked by Bismuth whether he had a message for the Israeli public ahead of his historic visit. Trump did not hesitate for a second before saying, “I love the people of Israel, I am working very hard to finally have peace for the people of Israel and the Palestinians and hopefully that can come about much sooner than anybody has ever projected. It is a tremendous possibility. It is good for all. This is a deal that is good for all. And I would consider it one of my crowning achievements if I can do it. We have the right people on it, too.”
Trump’s plan is to visit Jerusalem after his visit to Saudi Arabia. His goal is to succeed where Obama has failed; he wants to be the US president that can do the impossible, make a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
Former US Presidents George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Obama seriously believed that they would be able to resolve the conflict, if the two sides want it. During their terms, they put quite a lot of effort, and pressure (mainly on Israel) for the two sides to come to the negotiations table and make concessions, painful ones if necessary. None of them was able to achieve the goal and end the conflict. PM Netanyahu was mostly blamed for the failure; everyone knows that the Jews are stiff-necked people. They all agreed that the solution remains: two states for two peoples, living side-by-side in peace, in the 1967 borders with slight amendments.
As Trump became president, there was new hope in Israel; he is going to be different, he will be on our side and not pressure Israel. Trump would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and allow continued building in E. Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. And not object the annexation of parts of Judea and Samaria. But Israel may be in for a surprise in the visit of Trump.
Trump will first visit Saudi Arabia before coming to Israel. Saudi is an important partner in the peace deal and business deal of the billions of dollar arms sales. The Saudis don’t object to having diplomatic relationship with Israel, at Trumps’ request, but not at the Palestinian’s expense, Palestinians come first. The most important issue at this time to Trump is the quest to fight against Islamic State terrorism and Iran’s influence, and win. To accomplish this he needs the coalition of the so-called Muslim moderate Sunni states, headed by Saudi Arabia. Then comes the Peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
On his visit in Saudi Arabia, today, Trump will join 50 heads of Arab and Muslim state from across the Middle East, Africa and Asia who the Saudi king has invited to a summit. King Salman is hoping that the summit will strengthen relations between the two countries and “enhance global security establishing a new partnership in confronting extremism and terrorism.”
The President’s schedule in Jerusalem
On Monday Air Force One, arriving straight from the US president’s visit to Saudi Arabia, will land at 12:15 pm at Ben-Gurion International Airport, where President Trump will be welcomed in a state ceremony by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, and other dignitaries.
President Trump will walk the red carpet and review an honor guard. Then, after the Israeli and American national anthems are played, Trump, Rivlin and Netanyahu will make short speeches.
In an effort to keep the ceremony short, the President will not be shaking hands with dignitaries after the speeches at the airport. The Americans will then board Marine One and fly to Jerusalem, President Trump and First Lady Melania will head straight to the President’s Residence, where they will be welcomed by President Rivlin and his wife Nechama. After the American president signs the guest book, the two leaders will hold a private meeting following which they will make statements to the press.
Rivlin and his wife will then take Trump and the first lady to the garden at the President’s Residence, where an almond tree was planted to mark the visit. A sign near the tree bears a quote in Hebrew, English and Arabic from the Song of Ascents in the Book of Psalms: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and prosperity within your palaces.”
The Western Wall, Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, The Symbol of our Relationship with the US
From the President’s Residence, President Trump will head to the Old City for a private visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. He will then visit the Western Wall, where he will be accompanied by Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch and joined by First Lady Melania and daughter Ivanka. Read more about the History of the Western Wall.
After the visit to the Western Wall, President Trump will head to the King David Hotel, where he will be staying during his visit, while First Lady Melania will join Prime Minister
Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, on a visit to the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem’s Ein Karem. They will talk with the medical staff and meet with children in the play area for a joint artistic activity.
At 6pm, President Trump will meet in private with Prime Minister Netanyahu at the King David Hotel, following which their teams will join the meeting.
At 7:15pm, Trump, Netanyahu and their wives will travel to the Prime Minister’s Residence for dinner, which will be cooked by Israeli chef Moshe Segev. Singer Shiri Maimon will perform two songs, one of them being the Frank Sinatra version of “New York, New York.”
During the dinner, Prime Minister Netanyahu is planning on presenting President Trump with a beautiful Bible.
Following the dinner, the two leaders will give statements to the press but will not respond to questions.
On Tuesday, President Trump will arrive in Bethlehem for a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
At 1pm, President Trump will hold a short (15-minute) visit at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, where he will lay a wreath, write in the guest book and make a short statement to the press.
President Trump will then head to the Israel Museum, where he will make a speech to conclude his visit. In his speech, the President is expected to present his vision for a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, and express his support to the people of Israel. At 3:40pm, the President will leave Israel for his next destination, Rome.
Israel still believes that President Trump is a true friend. He has made his support for Israel very clear; the UN Ambassador Nikki Haley has condemned the anti-Israel bias that has been going on for so long. On the settlement issue, the President does not insist on stopping all building. Netanyahu is more relaxed with him, and there is an overall feeling in Israel that Trump can restore the relationship between Israel and its main ally, the USA, and the trust that was damaged by the Obama administration.
President Trump will reassure Israel of the strong ties between the US and Israel, and the guarantee for Israel’s security, but he may also use some pressure tactics on Israel to be more flexible toward the Palestinians and even limit building in Judea and Samaria.
On the issue of transferring the American embassy to Jerusalem, the Trump administration is concerned that it will complicate efforts to renew the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. Therefore, he will not make any announcements on the issue, though this remains his ultimate goal.
Read more details: An Unsolvable Conflict.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM, ACCORDING TO GOD’S PLAN AND PURPOSE. PRAY FOR WISDOM FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PM NETANAHU, AND FOR PROTECTION AGAINST ANY ATTACKS ON THE VISIT.