Trump lands in Israel

President Trump landed in Israel on Monday, the second stop of his first foreign trip as president.

“Thank you, and shalom,” he said at a welcoming ceremony in Tel Aviv. “It is wonderful to be here in Israel.”

“On my first trip overseas as president, I have come to this sacred and ancient land to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between the United States and the state of Israel,” he said.

{mosads}Trump called Israel “one of the great civilizations,” describing it as a “strong, resilient, determined and prosperous nation.”

Trump also said he has “new reasons for hope” after an earlier stop in Saudi Arabia. During a speech in Riyadh on Sunday, Trump urged Muslim nations to form a new coalition to “drive out the extremists.”

“We have before us a rare opportunity to bring security and stability and peace to the region and its people,” the president said in Israel.

“But we can only get there working together.”

Trump has meetings scheduled later Monday with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The president and first lady Melania Trump are also expected to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

— This breaking news report was last updated at 6:49 a.m.