Israeli President Reuven Rivlin invited President Trump to visit Jerusalem Saturday in a letter congratulating him on his inauguration.
“Mr. President, as a longstanding friend of the State of Israel, you now stand as leader of the free world, and of Israel’s most important and closest ally,” Rivlin wrote in the letter, which he posted to social media.
This evening, sent a letter to new @POTUS Donald Trump, congratulating him on his inauguration, & inviting him to visit Israel. @IsraelinUSA pic.twitter.com/p0SK59UZaw
— Reuven Rivlin (@PresidentRuvi) January 21, 2017
Rivlin wished Trump’s administration “much success” before inviting the president to be a guest in Jerusalem.
Trump has vowed to be a staunch ally to Israel, and had frequently criticized the Obama administration for its treatment of Israel.
The president was particularly critical of Obama’s last-minute dig at Israel, which occurred when he allowed a resolution to pass the United Nations Security Council resolution which denounced Israeli settlements. The move was seen as a departure from a longstanding U.S. policy of defending Israel diplomatically.
Trump’s staff have said they are considering the possibility of moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in a symbolic showing of solidarity with Israel.
