Prime Minister Netanyahu: President Trump, Donald,
Sara and I are absolutely delighted to welcome
you and Melania to the Prime Minister's residence
in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people,
the united capital of the Jewish state.
We've known each other for many years, and it's
always good to see you.
But it's also wonderful to see the blossoming
friendship between our two beautiful wives,
Sara and Melania.
You're so welcome here, and we're so pleased
to see you.
We're honored to have you in our home.
You've been today, Mr. President,
to the Western Wall, one of the holiest sites of Judaism.
You have been to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,
one of the holiest sites of Christianity.
We protect the Christian sites as no one else does
anywhere in this region.
We protect Christian sites, Muslim sites,
obviously Jewish sites.
We're committed to the freedom of all faiths
and to the rights of all.
Mr. President, I appreciate the fact
that you went to the Western Wall and you're the first
acting President who's done that.
The people of Israel applaud you for it.
(Applause.)
We had a terrific discussion today.
And when I say terrific, it encompasses everything.
We can talk about deregulation,
we can talk about economics.
I think we quote each other.
We understand each other and so much of the things
that we wish to accomplish for both our countries.
But I want to thank you especially today
for your deep commitment to Israel's security,
its wellbeing, and its future.
I have no doubt that, as we work together, you and I,
the alliance between our countries
will grow ever stronger.
I want you to know how much we appreciate
the change in American policy on Iran, which you enunciated
so clearly just an hour ago.
I want you to know how much we appreciate
your bold decision to act against the use
of chemical weapons in Syria.
And I want to tell you also how much
we appreciate the reassertion of American leadership
in the Middle East.
I look forward to working closely with you
to confront the dangers we face together in this
violent and volatile Middle East.
I believe that together we can roll back Iran's march
of aggression and terror in this region, and we can
thwart Iran's unbridled ambition to become
a nuclear weapon state.
I also look forward to working closely with you
to advance peace in our region, because you have
noted so succinctly that common dangers are turning
former enemies into partners.
And that's where we see something new
and potentially something very promising.
It won't be simple.
But for the first time in many years --
and, Mr. President, for the first time in my lifetime --
I see a real hope for change.
The Arab leaders who you met yesterday could help
change the atmosphere, and they could help create
the conditions for a realistic peace.
These are all great signs on your historic visit.
It's a visit that I think has echoed down the ages,
because the great Abraham Lincoln is reported
to have said that there was no city on Earth
he so much desired to see as Jerusalem.
Well, Mr. President, Donald, there's no city
on Earth where you are more welcome than right here
with us in Jerusalem.
Welcome to Jerusalem.
Welcome to Israel.
(Applause.)
President Trump: Thank you very much.
And it's a great honor to be with my good friend,
Prime Minister Netanyahu, and, of course, Sara.
Thank you.
And also thank you for that beautiful tour.
Melania is still talking about it.
Thank you very much.
You honored me and Melania by being one of the first
world leaders to visit the White House, as you know.
And we had a very good and sound discussion.
And now you honor us again by welcoming us to your
home on my first trip abroad as the President
of the United States.
This is a land filled with beauty, wonder,
and the spirit of God.
I've been amazed by the glorious and beautiful
monuments and holy sites, and the generosity
of your incredible people.
Because it's all about the people.
I was deeply moved by my visit today to the Western Wall.
Words fail to capture the experience.
It will leave an impression on me forever.
Today, we reaffirmed the unbreakable bond
of friendship between Israel and the United States --
a friendship built on our shared love of freedom,
our shared belief in human dignity, and our shared hope
for an Israel at lasting peace.
We want Israel to have peace.
But we are more than friends.
We are great allies.
We have so many opportunities in front of us.
But we must seize them together.
We must take advantage of the situation, and there
are many, many things that can happen now that would
never have been able to happen before.
And we understand that very well.
That includes advancing prosperity, defeating
the evils of terrorism, and facing the threat
of an Iranian regime that is threatening the region
and causing so much violence and suffering.
During my travels, I have seen many hopeful signs
that lead me to believe that we can truly achieve
a more peaceful future for this region and for people
of all faiths and all beliefs and, frankly,
all over the world.
In my visit to Saudi Arabia, I met with many
leaders of the Arab and Muslim world, including
King Salman, who treated us so beautifully
and really wants to see great things happen for the world.
He really does.
I got to know him well, and he really does.
These leaders voiced concerns we all share --
about ISIS, about Iran's rising ambitions
and rolling back its gains, and about the menace
of extremism that has spread through too many parts
of the Muslim world.
I'm encouraged that they pledge cooperation
to confront terrorism and the hateful ideology
that drives it so hard.
America welcomes the action and support of any
nation willing to do the hard but vital work
in eradicating the violent ideologies that have
caused so much needless bloodshed and killing here
and all over the world.
We are willing to work together.
I believe that a new level of partnership is possible
and will happen -- one that will bring greater
safety to this region, greater security
to the United States, and greater prosperity to the world.
This includes a renewed effort at peace between
the Israelis and the Palestinians, and I thank
the Prime Minister for his commitment to pursuing
the peace process.
He's working very hard at it.
It's not easy.
I've heard it's one of the toughest deals of all,
but I have a feeling that we're going to get there eventually,
I hope.
I'm certain we will have very productive discussions.
And we're going to have very productive
discussions, in my opinion, with the leaders
of other nations also.
And I feel strongly about that, because there's
a lot of love out there.
And people from all nations, even nations that
you would be surprised to hear, they want to stop the killing.
They've had enough.
America stands ready to assist in every way we can.
Our deep and lasting friendship will only grow
deeper and stronger as we work together in the days ahead.
I thank you again for hosting us in this
beautiful and ancient land.
Truly, it's a land of wonders.
And it's my honor to be here with you.
Sara, thank you.
Bibi, thank you.
I appreciate it very much.
Great honor.
Thank you.
Prime Minister Netanyahu: Thank you.
(Applause.)