‘The visit of the U.S. president … is accompanied by great emotion and expectation,’ an Israeli Ministry of Defense official said.
TEL AVIV—The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that it has completed preparations to receive U.S. President Donald Trump at Ben Gurion Airport early on Monday morning. A roughly 160-foot red carpet has been laid out at the center of the ceremonial plaza, alongside a platform for journalists and photographers, and dozens of Israeli and U.S. flags are flying.
At 11 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET), a trumpet fanfare will announce the president’s entrance into the Knesset plenum.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address the assembly in a special session convened in Trump’s honor. Their speeches will be followed by the U.S. president.
So far, only three American presidents have addressed the Israeli parliament: President Jimmy Carter in 1979, President Bill Clinton in 1994, and President George W. Bush in 2008.
As part of preparations for the state visit, the Knesset building has been illuminated in the colors of both nations’ flags—blue, white, and red. Interior screens will display messages in both Hebrew and English, featuring a special event logo designed for the occasion. Two viewing areas have been designated for guests inside the building, and the event will be broadcast live via satellite worldwide.
“The visit of the U.S. president, against the backdrop of the framework for the release of our abductees, is accompanied by great emotion and expectation,” said Erez Tsidon, head of the Amun division of the Ministry of Defense, which is responsible for the reception. “Members of the Amun division have been working around the clock in recent days to ensure everything goes according to plan and that the event proceeds successfully and with dignity.”
By Oren Shalom
