Trump may attend launch of new US embassy in Jerusalem
6 March 2018 3:44 PM GMT
Washington: US President Donald Trump has indicated that he might attend the inauguration of the new American embassy in Jerusalem as he reaffirmed his country's support to Israel's security during his talks with embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel s capital in December and announced that the US embassy would move to the city in May, shortly after Israel s 70th anniversary.
The decision caused uproar in the Arab world and led Palestinian leaders to reject a US role in mediating a resolution to the decades old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Trump said he might visit Jerusalem in May this year to open the new American Embassy there.
We're looking at it. We'll have it built very quickly. A lot of people wouldn't be doing it quickly like that. But we're going to have it built very quickly and very inexpensively, he said.
Trump reaffirmed the great friendship between the US and Israel, and the commitment of the US to Israel s security.
Trump underscored his goal of countering Iran s "malign influence", the White House said after Trump met Netanyahu.
Welcoming Netanyahu to his Oval Office, Trump said the relationship between the two countries is at its best.
We have, I would say, probably the best relationships right now with Israel that we ever had. I think we're as close now as, maybe, ever before, he said. Netanyahu also praised Trump, saying that his move to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital would be remembered throughout the ages.
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