Trump becomes first sitting U.S. president to visit Jerusalem's Western Wall [tr]

UK Daily Mail ^ | May 22, 2017 | David Martosko

[C19fan]

Donald Trump on Monday became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Western Wall – the holiest site where Jews can pray – and left a prayer note there in accordance with Jewish custom. Located in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, the Western Wall is a section of one of four original retaining walls King Herod built in the first century B.C. to support the Temple Mount. It is also the only remaining portion of the Second Jewish Temple, which stood in Jerusalem until the Romans destroyed it in 70 A.D. as they put down a Jewish revolt. It has been U.S. policy for the last 50 years to not recognize East Jerusalem as part of Israel, making a visit to the wall a political minefield.

[C19fan]

God sure in strange ways. The first sitting POTUS to pray at the Western Wall is Trump.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[SeekAndFind]

First president to do so? Really?

[faithhopecharity]

Dear U.K. Editor, “Israeli-liberated,” thank you.

[lee martell]

That’s what I thought. All the modern day presidents have done it, even Obola! Not the best reporting here from a source that is usually quite accurate.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Yes He does work in strange ways.

I’m surprised Jimmy Carter didn’t go there. Seeing as how he’s a born again Christian and all that. I thought devout Christians have reverence for the Western Wall and that Christian visitors to Israel frequently go there.

but then again, the political minefield of that being technically still, occupied territory, is probably why other presidents didn’t go there.

But we see Trump operates differently. He doesn’t give a blank if he offends someone’s sensibilities.

[2banana]

According to the article...

Barack Obama visited the Western Wall in 2008, when he was a presidential candidate.

[Bulwinkle]

First President to visit while president. The others did it either before they became president or after

[billorites]

Did you see this workmanship? It looks like hell! All cracks and holes...
I don't care how old it is. Herod was an idiot to have paid for this. Sheesh!

[Alberta's Child]

I don’t know about the others, but I’m pretty sure Obama’s visit to the Western Wall took place in 2008 while he was still a candidate. Clinton looks old in his photo, and George W. Bush looks young — so I suspect none of the three actually visited the Western Wall while they were sitting U.S. presidents.

[2banana]

And your pics of Bush and Clinton, they look fairly old and well out of their POTUS terms.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Ya that’s definitely a post presidential Clinton.

[LydiaLong]

Did you see this workmanship? It looks like hell! All cracks and holes...
I don’t care how old it is. Herod was an idiot to have paid for this. Sheesh!
_____________________

LOL

“Send that architect to me. He’s FIRED!!”

[RummyChick]

according to a poster on another thread...US has made it very clear this is a PERSONAL visit..not Head of State visit.

[Alberta's Child]

The U.S. has to walk a very fine line when it comes to leaders conducting official business. The legal status of Jerusalem has not been formally determined under U.S. policy as laid out in the Declaration of Principles (1993) and the Interim Agreement (1995) on Palestine.

Interestingly, Israel is a signatory to both of these documents as well.

[Sacajaweau]

Kudos and thanks for the chuckle.

[DoughtyOne]

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[DoughtyOne]

Obama did it before he became president.

Not sure about the other two.

[Defiant]

Dear God,

Whatever Obama's note said, please do the opposite. Thank you. Trump

[Ezekiel]

Dear God,
Whatever Obama's note said, please do the opposite. Thank you. Trump

Hahaha, good call:

Odd that he didn't even sign it.