But anonymous officials said that by revealing the city in the Islamic State’s territory – where a US partner had detected the threat – Russian Federation could deduce secret sources and methods of intelligence gathering, and damage a critical source of intelligence on the terror group.
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Trump said that he and the Americans travelling with him “were treated incredibly well” in Saudi Arabia, where the two nations agreed upon a $110 billion arms deal.
One point of contention in the talks: the fate of east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war. Jewish worshippers visit and pray at the Western Wall, while Muslims visit and pray at the mosque above the wall.
“Israel’s hand is extended in peace to all our neighbors, including the Palestinians”, said Netanyahu, according to The Guardian.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett used the welcome ceremony to press Trump to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer, later asked about McMaster’s comments, said “It’s clearly in Jerusalem”.
Pundits speculated that Mr Trump’s alleged disclosure of classified intelligence to Russian officials could possible overshadow his first visit to Israel as president.
The Trumps landed in Israel from Saudi Arabia, where they started their trip. Both sides consider Jerusalem its capital.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan informed Trump of a possible attack in Tel Aviv that transpired while the president was airborne.
Netanyahu said the Israeli people “applaud” the USA president for making the trip.
ABC reports the administration claimed it was a “private visit”.
The Western Wall is the outer wall of what Jews call the Temple Mount, the last remnant of the second Jewish temple, built by King Herod and destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
Nonetheless, Trump’s visit – and particularly his brief stop at the Western Wall, Judaism’s most revered religious site – carried profound significance.
“Israel shares the commitment to peace that you made yesterday”.
Oren Hazan, a politician in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Likud party did take his hand in what The Associated Press described as a characteristically aggressive handshake, then took out his a cell phone for a selfie.
But the visit also comes as the U.S.
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Candidate Trump vowed in multiple speeches on the campaign trail that he would move the USA embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the country’s capital.
