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Donald Trump arrives in Israel amid tight security Trump warns of Iranian nuclear threat on visit to Israel
(about 1 hour later)
Donald Trump has arrived in Israel as he continues his first foreign trip as US president. US President Donald Trump has begun a visit to Israel by warning of the threat posed by Iran if it acquires nuclear weapons.
"Iran must never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon," he told reporters in Jerusalem, speaking beside Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
He flew in from Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, where he gave a speech to Arab and Muslim leaders at a summit.He flew in from Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, where he gave a speech to Arab and Muslim leaders at a summit.
Mr Trump will hold talks with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders during the course of his two-day stop. Mr Trump will hold talks with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
The president has called an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement "the ultimate deal", but has been vague about what form it should take. He has called an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement "the ultimate deal" but has been vague about what form it should take, saying he prefers to leave it to both sides to decide between them in direct talks.
He has said he prefers to leave it to both sides to decide between them in direct talks. On his arrival in Tel Aviv, Mr Trump said he hoped the US and Israel could work together in an era of "harmony, prosperity and peace". The two-day visit to Israel forms part of Mr Trump's first foreign trip as US president.
Mr Trump's flight between Saudi Arabia and Israel is likely to have been the first between the two countries, that have no diplomatic relations. What else did he say about Iran?
What can we expect to come up, and what is the context for his visit? Iran must also "cease its deadly funding, training and equipping of terrorists and militias", he said at President Rivlin's residence.
Tehran insists it does not want nuclear weapons but Israel and the US refuse to believe its denials, with fear and distrust of Iran widespread in Israel.
What is Mr Trump's position on Israel's settlements?What is Mr Trump's position on Israel's settlements?
The US president has been widely seen as considerably more supportive of Israel than his predecessor, Barack Obama. He has taken a softer position on the contentious issue of Israeli settlements, suggesting that their expansion rather than their presence might hamper the search for peace.The US president has been widely seen as considerably more supportive of Israel than his predecessor, Barack Obama. He has taken a softer position on the contentious issue of Israeli settlements, suggesting that their expansion rather than their presence might hamper the search for peace.
More than 600,000 Jews live in about 140 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, land Palestinians claim for a future state.More than 600,000 Jews live in about 140 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, land Palestinians claim for a future state.
The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.
An embassy in Jerusalem?An embassy in Jerusalem?
The president has also sent mixed signals on the issue of Jerusalem, pledging to move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, angering Palestinians and delighting Israelis.The president has also sent mixed signals on the issue of Jerusalem, pledging to move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, angering Palestinians and delighting Israelis.
However he has since stalled, with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently telling NBC News that Mr Trump was weighing it up.However he has since stalled, with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently telling NBC News that Mr Trump was weighing it up.
Israel regards the whole of Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians claim the east as their capital. The international community does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem and countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.Israel regards the whole of Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians claim the east as their capital. The international community does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem and countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.
The ultimate deal - By Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editor, JerusalemThe ultimate deal - By Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editor, Jerusalem
President Trump believes he is the world's greatest dealmaker, and making peace between Israelis and Palestinians after a century of conflict would be the world's biggest deal.President Trump believes he is the world's greatest dealmaker, and making peace between Israelis and Palestinians after a century of conflict would be the world's biggest deal.
During the US election, candidate Trump expressed views that seemed to fit neatly with those of the right-wing Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu - favouring expansion of Jewish settlements on occupied territory and a tough line towards Palestinian aspirations for independence.During the US election, candidate Trump expressed views that seemed to fit neatly with those of the right-wing Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu - favouring expansion of Jewish settlements on occupied territory and a tough line towards Palestinian aspirations for independence.
But in office, President Trump has been more nuanced - so there's been some nervous speculation on the Israeli right that he might demand concessions from their side. But in office, President Trump has been more nuanced - so there has been some nervous speculation on the Israeli right that he might demand concessions from their side.
More than two decades of failed peace talks show how difficult it is to get a deal between Israel and the Palestinians.More than two decades of failed peace talks show how difficult it is to get a deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
Most people, on both sides of the argument, are deeply sceptical about the chances of any progress, no matter what President Trump says or does while he is here.Most people, on both sides of the argument, are deeply sceptical about the chances of any progress, no matter what President Trump says or does while he is here.
Anything contentious about the visit? What's on Trump's agenda?
There has been some consternation in Israel in the run-up to Mr Trump's trip over remarks made by administration officials. He will hold separate meetings with Mr Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem the following day.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Mr Tillerson's suggestion that moving the embassy might harm the peace process, while a US Consulate official caused outrage by saying the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest sites, was "not in your [Israel's] territory but part of the West Bank". Mr Trump's trip also comes days after it was reported that the president had leaked to Russia's foreign minister classified intelligence information said to have come from an Israeli source. The incident raised questions about the confidentiality of secret intelligence passed to the US by its closest Middle Eastern ally.
The White House later said: "The Western Wall is in Jerusalem... such alleged statements would not have been authorised by the White House, [and] do not reflect the US position, and certainly not the president's position". Just before Mr Trump arrived, Israel announced economic and development concessions for Palestinians, including easing some restrictions on movement and approving industrial construction projects.
Mr Trump is expected to visit the Western Wall, located in the Old City of East Jerusalem, in a private capacity on Monday - the first sitting US president to do so. Mr Trump is expected to visit the Western Wall, located in the Old City of East Jerusalem, unaccompanied by Israeli officials - the first sitting US president to do so.
He will also visit the nearby Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where according to Christian tradition Jesus was buried and resurrected. He will also visit the nearby Church of the Holy Sepulchre where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus was buried and resurrected.
Mr Trump's trip also comes days after it was reported that the president had leaked to Russia's foreign minister classified intelligence information said to have come from an Israeli source. The incident has raised questions about the confidentiality of secret intelligence passed to the US by its closest Middle Eastern ally.
A huge security operation is under way for the visit, during which he will hold separate meetings with Mr Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem the following day.
A day before Mr Trump was due to arrive, Israel's announced economic and development concessions for Palestinians, including easing some restrictions on movement and approving industrial construction projects.
What about the rest of the trip?What about the rest of the trip?
At a summit in Riyadh on Sunday, Mr Trump stated again that he believed peace between Israelis and Palestinians was possible.At a summit in Riyadh on Sunday, Mr Trump stated again that he believed peace between Israelis and Palestinians was possible.
He also called on Arab and Muslim leaders to take the lead in combating Islamist militants, urging them to "drive them out of this earth".He also called on Arab and Muslim leaders to take the lead in combating Islamist militants, urging them to "drive them out of this earth".
Mr Trump's eight-day trip will also take in Brussels, the Vatican, and Sicily.Mr Trump's eight-day trip will also take in Brussels, the Vatican, and Sicily.
The president's visit has been overshadowed by his political difficulties at home, namely the fallout over his sacking of FBI chief James Comey.The president's visit has been overshadowed by his political difficulties at home, namely the fallout over his sacking of FBI chief James Comey.