President Donald Trump was welcomed to Israel on Monday with at a red carpet ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv featuring a large delegation that included Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sarah as well as Netanyahu’s cabinet and Knesset Members.
US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump disembark Air Force One on arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport, Monday, May 22, 2017, in Tel Aviv. Trump opened his first visit to Israel Monday, a two-day stop aimed at testing the waters for jumpstarting Middle East peace process. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
A military band played the U.S. and Israeli national anthems before Trump, Netanyahu and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin walked to a podium to deliver brief remarks.
US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, center, stand in attention during welcome ceremony accompany by the Israeli President Rueben Rivlin and his wife Nechama, on the left, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sarah in Tel Aviv. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
US President Donald Trump, right, is welcomed by Israeli President Rueben Rivlin, on arrival ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuwith accompanied by President Rueven Rivlin during welcome ceremony in Tel Aviv. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talk during welcome ceremony in Tel Aviv. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
After the arrival ceremony at Ben Gurion Airport, Trump traveled by helicopter to Jerusalem and for a meeting with Rivlin at the Israeli president’s residence. From there Trump and his delegation will continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the holiest sites in Christianity, and stop for a visit to the Western Wall before heading to a private social dinner with Netanyahu.
On Tuesday, Trump’s schedule includes a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem and a wreath laying ceremony at Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. Trump will then give a speech at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem before departing the country for the Vatican.
Aaron Klein is Breitbart’s Jerusalem bureau chief and senior investigative reporter. He is a New York Times bestselling author and hosts the popular weekend talk radio program, “Aaron Klein Investigative Radio.” Follow him on Twitter @AaronKleinShow. Follow him on Facebook.