Trump Reaffirms Commitment To Israel, Peace In Middle East

"Israel is a testament to the unbreakable spirit of the Jewish people," Mr. Trump said. "One message resounds, and that is the message of hope, they have endured and they have thrived. I stand in awe of the accomplishments of the Jewish people and I make this promise to you: my administration will always stand with Israel."

Mr. Trump said his visit to the region was one built around the idea of "bringing nations around the world to defeat terrorism, and hateful ideology that drives it so hard and so fast."

"Today I call upon all people, Jews, Christians and Muslims, every tribe, every creed, to draw inspiration from this ancient city, to set aside our sectarian differences, to overcome oppression and hatred and give all children dignity and hope," Mr. Trump said.

Mr. Trump also reaffirmed his commitment to stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons and preserving Israel's security in the region.
"Iran's leaders routinely call for Israel's destruction -- not with Donald J. Trump. Believe me," he said. "We are telling you right now that Iran will not have nuclear weapons."

While no concrete plans for achieving peace in the Middle East were hashed out during Mr. Trump's visit, he was confident that both Israelis and Palestinians are "ready to reach for peace" and "make a deal."

"We know both Israelis and Palestinians seek lives of hope for their children, we know peace is possible if we put aside pain and disagreement of past and commit together to resolving crisis," said Mr. Trump.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke before Mr. Trump, fiercely criticized Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, saying he hopes he heeds the moral principles the U.S. President has laid out on this trip.