Posted on 03/08/2018 5:31:18 AM PST by SJackson
The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, will make an official trip to Israel, the first-ever by a member of the royal family, as part of a tour of the region this summer.
“The Duke of Cambridge will visit Israel, Jordan and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in the Summer,” Kensington Palace said on Twitter.
“The visit is at the request of Her Majesty’s Government and has been welcomed by the Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian authorities,” the statement added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the visit by William, who is second in line for the throne, would be “historic.”
“We welcome the announcement of Prince William’s visit to Israel. This is an historic visit, the first of its kind, and he will be welcomed here with great affection. I have instructed the Foreign Ministry Director General to coordinate the preparations for the visit to ensure its success.”
Similarly, President Reuven Rivlin, who has issued several invitations to the royal family to come to Israel, said he was “happy” to hear of their planned visit.
“A very special guest, and a very special present for our 70th year of independence,” Rivlin said on Twitter.
Despite the United Kingdom being one of Israel’s top allies in Europe, the royal family has never made an official trip to Israel, which has long angered Israeli leaders, with reports suggesting the royals have wanted to avoid upsetting their Arab allies.
However, with Israel’s ties with the Arab world warming in recent years, the visit by William may be a sign that this may no longer be a concern.
Nevertheless, Prince Charles has visited Israel on unofficial trips, attending the funerals of both Shimon Peres in 2016 and Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. His father, Prince Philip, also visited Israel in 1994 to attend a ceremony commemorating his mother, Alice of Battenberg, who is buried on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives.
Kensington Palace used the term “ Occupied Palestinian Territories”?
Whatta buncha idiots
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Wonder if that’s what the brits called Ireland, India, and all the other places they took by force?
I was wondering if Israelis make official visits to “ Occupied Irish Territories”
When I lived in Britain in the 80’s, I felt there was a lot of anti-Semitism there. Maybe it was just my experience. I asked my husband about it. He said there wasn’t anti-Semitism, but that Britain did promise the Palestinians that Britain would always protect them. I really should read up on Britain’s stance in 1948, when the UN gave Israel back to the Jews.
This is actually a big deal. Prince William will visit Israel on its significant 70th anniversary year (and it’s possible that President Trump might also visit). After 70 YEARS, this is the first OFFICIAL royal family visit! Even the Queen wasn’t able to pay a visit due to political reasons, even though her mother-in-law is buried at the Mount of Olives. I can say that God’s blessings will be on Prince William for making this bold move, and the Queen, for she must have approved it.
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