Welcome Change: First Official U.S. Visit to Israel of the Trump Era is Now Underway

News Staff : Jan 24, 2017
Israel Today

"This is the time for responsible diplomacy and education with our friends, the time diplomacy which will strengthen our cooperation, and increase our trust between the State of Israel and the new government in Washington." -Benjamin Netanyahu

(Israel)—[Israel Today] The first official from the Trump Administration to visit Israel arrived on Tuesday for a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Photo credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90/via Israel Today)

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a close adviser to President Donald Trump and new head of America's cyber security program, was warmly welcomed by Netanyahu.

At a press briefing ahead of Giuliani's arrival, the prime minister said:

"This is the time for responsible diplomacy and education with our friends, the time diplomacy which will strengthen our cooperation, and increase our trust between the State of Israel and the new government in Washington."

Netanyahu rejected calls from right-wing members of his coalition to take the opportunity afforded by Trump's inauguration to annex areas of Judea and Samaria where hundreds of thousands of Jews live.

"This is not the time for knee-jerk reactions, impositions, or surprises," said Netanyahu, insisting that he prefers to work with Trump to achieve Israel's goals.