Fast Forward

Welcome To Israel, Donald — I Want A Selfie!

Donald Trump in Israel, May 22, 2017 Image by Getty Images

By Nathan Guttman May 22, 2017

Donald Trump in Israel, May 22, 2017 Image by Getty Images

It didn’t take long for Donald Trump to grasp the difference between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Moments after he landed, the famous Israeli informality was on full display.

First, at the receiving line of Israeli dignitaries waiting to shake hands with the visiting president. Naftali Bennett who leads the right-wing Jewish Home party, held on to Trump just long enough to tell him it is time for America to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over Jerusalem. “That’s an idea,” Trump replied. Other cabinet ministers also chose to replace the quick handshake with a lecture on Israel’s historic ties to Jerusalem

Nothing prepared Trump for Oren Hazan, a Likud MK, who stopped Trump, pulled out his phone, and shot a sefie with the president. Minutes later Hazan proudly posted the selfie online.

And then came the short stroll toward the helicopter transporting Trump to Jerusalem. In the informal chat, caught on camera Sara Netanyahu was heard discussing with Melania Trump the joint destiny the first two families share. “Most people in Israel, unlike the media, they love us,” said Sara Netanyahu, “so we tell them how brave you are and they love you.”

Contact Nathan Guttman at [email protected] or on Twitter @nathanguttman

Nathan Guttman, staff writer, was the Forward’s Washington bureau chief. He joined the staff in 2006 after serving for five years as Washington correspondent for the Israeli dailies Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post. In Israel, he was the features editor for Ha’aretz and chief editor of Channel 1 TV evening news. He was born in Canada and grew up in Israel. He is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

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