PM Benjamin Netanyahu meets and President Donald Trump in Washington, March 5, 2018. (Haim Zach/GPO) (Haim Zach/GPO)
Netanyahu Trump

Contrary to earlier speculation, Trump will not attend the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem in May.

By: United with Israel Staff

President Donald Trump will not travel to Israel to attend the historic opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem on May 14, Hadashot TV reported Tuesday evening.

With the opening scheduled to coincide with Israel’s 70th Independence Day celebrations, Trump had said he may visit Israel for the facility’s inauguration.
“We’re looking at coming, if I can I will, Israel is very special to me, special country, special people, I look forward to being there and I’m very proud of that decision,” he said during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington earlier this month.

Commenting at the time on his official recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and his decision to move the embassy there, Trump said that the US now has “probably the best relationship with Israel we’ve ever had. We’re as close now as maybe ever before. Jerusalem was a wonderful thing, and I know it was very much appreciated in a big part of the world, not just in Israel, so that was a decision that I had to make.”

According to Hadashot, there is still talk of the president traveling to Israel in July for a cornerstone-laying ceremony for the new embassy, although there has been no confirmation.