New York: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Monday met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu here and told him if elected to the White House he will recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided” capital.
The meeting between the two leaders at the Trump Towers in Manhattan come a day before the much-anticipated first presidential debate of the 2016 general election.
The meeting between the two leaders reportedly lasted for nearly 90 minutes.
During the meeting, the two discussed the “special relationship” and the “unbreakable bond” between their countries, Trump’s campaign said.
The topics of military assistance, security and regional stability were addressed, it said in a statement and added that the US under a Trump administration will accept the long-standing Congressional mandate to recognise Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel.
“Trump said that under a Trump administration, there will be extraordinary strategic, technological, military and intelligence cooperation between the two countries. Trump recognised Israel as a vital partner of the US in the global war against radical Islamic terrorism,” it said.
Trump agreed that the military assistance provided to Israel and missile defence cooperation with Israel are an excellent investment for America.
According to the campaign, the two leaders discussed at length the nuclear deal with Iran, the battle against Islamic State group and many other regional security concerns.
“Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed at length Israel’s successful experience with a security fence that helped secure its borders,” it said.
The two leaders also discussed Israel’s burgeoning hi-tech and biotech economy and how it has made stunning advances improving and saving lives around the world.
In particular, Trump noted Israel’s emergence as a world leader in cyber defence and security and its cooperation with the United States in this regard.
Recognising that Israel and its citizens have suffered far too long due to Islamic terrorism, Trump agreed with Netanyahu that the Israeli people want a just and lasting peace with their neighbours, but that peace will only come when the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish state, the campaign said.
Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish People for more than 3,000 years.
Netanyahu is also expected to meet Trump’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, who has supported a negotiated two-state solution in the region.