Paul Calvert was there to hear the initial speeches and has also been speaking to people on the streets of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.



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"We have before us a rare opportunity to bring security and stability and peace to this region and to its people, defeating terrorism and creating a future of harmony, prosperity and peace. But we can only get there working together. There is no other way.

"Mr President, Mr Prime Minister, I look forward to working closely with both of you during my stay. We love Israel. We respect Israel and I send your people the warmest greetings from your friend and ally, all of the people in the United States of America, we are with you. Thank you and God bless you."

Reflecting On President Donald Trump's First Visit To Israel

President Trump then went to meet dignitaries in the crowd before flying out to Jerusalem by helicopter.

It was great to see the American President in the Holy Land, but what do the people on the street think?

Sam from Jerusalem

Have you got any expectations about Donald Trump's visit?

No doubt about it, I am very excited that the President of the United States is making the effort and coming from abroad to visit Jerusalem.

Do you think he can bring peace to the Middle East?

No doubt, he cannot.

It's more complex than that?

No doubt that it's much more complex, because it's between the people who live daily, not between people who come once in a while to visit. It's like tourists that come once in a while to see the tourist places. They see it differently than people who live around. People who live around, they have the issues with making peace. Unfortunately Donald Trump would not have the ability to make the peace process.

So you think he will fail at this then?

No doubt.

He has talked about wanting to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Do you think he is going to do that?

I live in Jerusalem and I think it definitely makes a big change for the city that the embassy would move to Jerusalem, but the MK's (Members of the Knesset, Israeli Parliament) and the Prime Minister, probably it may not be so easy for them that the embassy would move to Jerusalem, because of the Palestinians. They don't like to see the recognition in Jerusalem as the most important part of Israel. But I think for the people who live in Jerusalem, it would make a big big difference and it will make the city a much better place once the embassy of the United States would be here.

Will it cause trouble if he did move it?

I think it may be, but only for a short while. For the long term, no.

Sami from Bethlehem

Donald Trump is coming to Bethlehem, is this a good thing for the Palestinians?

Well we hope it will be a good thing, because other Presidents of the United States came and did nothing, but we hope that he will try to push the peace talking forward.

Do you think he can bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians?

We hope so. As you know, we are a kind of people who hope. We believe in hope. We believe in peace and we hope that he will do something between both sides.

One of his election promises was to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. What do you think about that as a Palestinian?.

As a Palestinian, the matter is still under negotiation. Jerusalem is still under negotiation and everything is under negotiation. To do this, it will cost us, as well as bringing troubles and more violence. So I think when everything finishes, it will be easy for him to decide whether to move the embassy or not.

Will it cause violence between Palestinians or other Arab countries as well?

It might. Other Arab countries will be involved in that, because all of them believe that the East Jerusalem is Arab; it belongs to the Arab and the West Jerusalem belongs to the Jewish as you know.

What is the mood on the street about his coming?

As far I know, they are wondering what he will do and what he can do. We don't know yet, but we hope he will do something. CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.