Angry Netanyahu Orders Ministers To Attend Welcome For Trump
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that all Cabinet ministers must attend the arrival ceremony at Ben-Gurion International airport for President Donald Trump after learning most were not planning to attend.
Israeli media reported, citing an unnamed senior government official, that the prime minister got very angry at the meeting when he learned that so few government ministers had decided to come. Shortly after the meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office issued instructions to all government ministers requiring them to be in attendance at the airport at the time of Trump’s arrival.
The Foreign Ministry reportedly had originally said that attendance was optional.
U.S. officials reportedly were concerned about the heat upon the president’s arrival and asked for an abbreviated welcome ceremony.
Government ministers reportedly had decided not to attend the ceremony because they would be required to arrive 2.5 hours ahead of Trump’s arrival, go through a security check, and wait in the reception area. They also reportedly would not be afforded the opportunity to shake hands with the president or those traveling with him since they will not be standing in the receiving line at the airport.
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