The latest on Trump's Israel visit
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Evan Vucci / AP
President Trump is in Israel Monday, the second leg of his first foreign trip, where he's holding meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Follow along for live updates.
The latest: Trump and Melania have arrived at Netanyahu's residence, where they signed Bibi's guestbook and took a brief tour of the house. The two leaders then delivered a joint statement. They took no questions, but traded compliments and spoke of their optimism that a peace deal could be reached.
5:21am ET/ 12:21pm GMT+3: President Trump and Melania touched down at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, where they greeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara. Soon after their arrival, Sara was reportedly overheard telling Melania that the media also hates her and Bibi. "You know in Israel all the people like us, the media hate us but the people love us," said Sara, per Israel's Channel 2. "Like you."
6:55am ET/ 1:55pm GMT+3: Bibi tweets a group photo.
7am ET/ 2pm GMT+3: Marine One lands in Jerusalem. Trump meets with President Rivlin at his residence for a bilat. Trump commended Rivlin's work, and the two discussed the "opportunity" for Israel and other countries in the Middle East to come together.
7:50am ET/ 2:50pm GMT+3: Trump and Rivlin deliver a joint statement in Jerusalem. Key quote:
"This moment in history calls for us to strengthen our cooperation, as both Israel and America face common threats – from ISIS and other terrorist groups, to countries like Iran that sponsor terrorism and fund and foment terrible violence. Together, we can work to end the scourge of violence that has taken so many lives, here in Israel and around the world." — Donald Trump.
8:45am ET/ 3:45pm GMT+3: Trump and Melania visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
9:27am ET/ 4:27pm GMT+3: President Trump becomes the first sitting president in U.S. history to visit the Western Wall (Obama went as a candidate). He solemnly pressed his right hand against the Holy site, and left a note inside, in accordance with Jewish tradition. Trump was accompanied by Melania, Ivanka, and Jared.
11am ET/ 6:pm GMT+3: Melania Trump and Sara Netanyahu visit children on their tour of Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.
11:05am ET/ 6:03pm GMT+3: President Trump meets with Bibi in Jerusalem, where he criticizes the Iran deal as Netanyahu nods along. "We gave them wealth and prosperity... and an ability to continue with terror," said Trump. "Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. That I can tell you." Trump also told Bibi that he "never mentioned the word or the name Israel" during his Oval Office meeting with top Russian officials. "They're all saying I did, so you have another story wrong."
3pm ET/ 10pm GMT+3: Fireworks were shot over the Old City in Jerusalem following Trump and Melania's dinner with Netanyahu and Sara.
