Prince William arrived in Israel Monday on the second day of his five-day tour of the always-tense Middle East region, aiming to deploy his charm and diplomatic skills for this first-ever official visit by a British royal to the Jewish state. Kensington Palace posted a tweet showing the Duke of Cambridge, second in line to the throne, arriving in Tel Aviv, and noted the historic nature of his visit, a first not only for Israel but also for the Palestinian Territories. "Prince William arrives in Israel, on the first official visit by a senior member of the Royal Family," the tweet read. The prince, who is visiting the region to represent his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and at the behest of the British Foreign Office, is to spend time in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and in Ramallah in the West Bank, which the Foreign Office refers to as the "Occupied Palestinian Territories." William is scheduled to meet separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Israelis, celebrating the 70th anniversary year of the nation's independence, had long pleaded for British governments to send a high-ranking royal to help bolster its standing in the world. Up until now, government ministers had declined because of political and diplomatic sensitivities. The prince, 36, spent Sunday in Jordan, where he visited Jerash, the ancient Roman archaeological ruins where his wife, Duchess Kate of Cambridge, visited as a child when her family lived in the Hashemite kingdom in the 1980s. The Jordanians placed an enlarged photo of Kate, with little sister Pippa and father Michael Middleton, on the spot where a picture was taken of the trio. In brilliant desert sunshine and dressed in a casual jacket, shirt, trousers and sunglasses, William re-created the photo by standing in the same spot where his wife stood as a child. Duchess Kate stayed home with the couple's three children, including baby Prince Louis, who was born in April (and is to be christened on July 9 at at the Chapel Royal in St. James’ Palace in London). At a reception at the British ambassador to Jordan's residence in Amman, he told guests that Kate was disappointed she couldn't make the trip. "She loved it here, she really did. She is very upset that I am coming here without her," he said, according to British media. Accompanied by Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein, 23, William also got to watch — on a giant TV in Beit Al Urdun Palace in Amman — a rerun of England's World Cup match against Panama, which the heir to the Jordanian throne (son of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania) had helpfully recorded earlier. The Daily Mail reported that Will had jokingly warned photographers who accompanied him not to tell him the score or who had won the match. (It was England.) According to the Associated Press, William is set to tour Yad Vashem — Israel's official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust — on Tuesday. He is also expected to see Jerusalem's Old City from the Mount of Olives, before going to the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, where he will pay his respects at the tomb of his great-grandmother, Princess Alice. William's father, Charles, the Prince of Wales, 69, and his grandfather, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, 97, both have made private visits to Israel over the years to attend funerals and to visit Princess Alice's tomb. (She was Prince Philip's mother, born a German princess and descended of Queen Victoria, who married Philip's father, Prince Andrew, of the exiled Greek royal family.) Prior to the trip, Kensington Palace officials briefing reporters said the prince considers it "a great privilege" to carry out the first official royal tour of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and "to be able to help further strengthen the friendship between Jordan and the United Kingdom." Among other things, his schedule in the region is designed to allow him to meet young Jordanians, Israelis and Palestinians from his own generation. "His Royal Highness is looking forward to learning about their unique perspectives, but also their shared ambitions and hopes for the future," the palace said in a statement. While Prince William continued his good-will tour, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and Middle East adviser, Jared Kushner, has spent a week in the region meeting with leaders of Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to discuss the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and the administration’s proposals for a peace deal. Kushner said in an interview published Sunday in the Arabic language Al-Quds newspaper that the administration will soon present its Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, with or without input from Abbas. Kushner appealed directly to Palestinians and criticized Abbas, who has shunned the Trump team over its alleged pro-Israel bias, particularly on the fate of contested Jerusalem.<doc-sep>Prince William arrived in Israel on Monday for the first-ever official visit of a member of the Royal Family to the tumultuous region that London once ruled. Arriving from neighbouring Jordan, the Duke of Cambridge landed at Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport and then departed to Jerusalem, where he will stay at the elegant King David Hotel, site of the former administrative headquarters of the British mandate. Three decades of British rule between the two world wars helped establish some of the fault lines of today's Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Britain's withdrawal in 1948 led to the eventual establishment of Israel and Jordan. Britain has since taken a back seat to the United States in mediating peace efforts, and the Royal Family has mostly steered clear of the region's toxic politics. For the 36-year-old William, second in line to the throne, it marks a high-profile visit that could burnish his international credentials. Though the trip is being billed as non-political, and places a special emphasis on technology and joint Israeli-Arab projects, William will also meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and visiting landmark Jerusalem sites at the heart of the century-old conflict. Earlier Monday, Prince William visited the Princess Taghrid Institute for Development and Training in the province of Ajloun, north of the Jordanian capital Amman. (Ahmad Abdo/Pool via Reuters) On Tuesday, he will visit Jerusalem's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, where he will meet two survivors who escaped Nazi Germany for the safety of Britain. The memorial has recognized Prince William's great-grandmother, Princess Alice, as Righteous Among the Nations for her role in rescuing Jews during the Holocaust. Will meet Netanyahu, Abbas later In a 1994 visit to Yad Vashem, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, planted a tree there in his mother's honour. Princess Alice hid three members of the Cohen family in her palace in Athens during the Nazi occupation of Greece during the Second World War. Thanks to her, the Cohen family survived and today lives in France. The princess died in 1969, and in 1988 her remains were brought to Jerusalem. Later, the prince will meet Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before heading to coastal Tel Aviv to attend a football game of young Jewish and Arab players. He'll also meet the mayor of Tel Aviv and attend a reception the British ambassador is holding in his honour. "It is the right moment we think for a visit to really shine a light on that relationship and show how strong the contemporary relationship is between the two countries," Ambassador David Quarrey told The Associated Press. "The duke is very clear that he wants to come and get under the skin of the country, he wants to get a feel for Israel. He wants to get a flavour of the country." Later in the week, he'll travel to the West Bank and meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah before wrapping up the trip in East Jerusalem to visit his great-grandmother's gravesite. The royal itinerary managed to anger Israeli politicians by mentioning Jerusalem as being part of "the Occupied Palestinian Territories." Jerusalem Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin, who is running for mayor of the city in this year's elections, called the reference a "distortion" that cannot "change reality." Delivers royal regards to Jordan Israel captured East Jerusalem in 1967 and then annexed it in 1980. But its claim to this half of the city is not recognized internationally. Israel considers the city, home to holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, as an inseparable part of its capital. The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as their future capital. Quarrey insisted the wording merely reflected decades of terminology used by British governments. "It is important to emphasize that the duke is not a political figure, this is not a political visit," he said. William, left, and Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein look at a photograph showing William's wife, Kate, her father, Michael Middleton, and younger sister, Pippa, in the ruins of the Roman city of Jerash in the 1980s. (Raad al-Adayleh/Associated Press) Prince William arrived from Jordan, where he kicked off his five-day Middle East tour by meeting young scientists, refugees and political leaders. He was hosted by Crown Prince Hussein, 23, a member of the Hashemite dynasty Britain helped install in then Transjordan almost a century ago. The pair later watched the England-Panama World Cup match together. William was not accompanied to the region by his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge. Kate gave birth to a son, Louis, in April. The couple have two other children: George, who turns five next month, and Charlotte, three. In Jordan, the prince attended a reception marking the birthday of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and toured the ruins of the Roman city of Jerash, a major tourist attraction his wife had visited as a child when she and her family lived in Jordan. William paused at the spot where Kate was snapped with her father Michael and sister Pippa in the 1980s, and laughed as he inspected a giant blow-up of the photo at the Jerash archeological site. William read a letter from his grandmother Elizabeth, who visited in 1984, saying she was delighted that 34 years later, her grandson would be able to experience the heartfelt welcome she had received in Jordan. During a reception at the British Embassy, William said his wife had loved living in the country and "was very sorry she could not come so soon after the birth of our son Louis."<doc-sep>The royal dad landed in Tel Aviv on Monday to kick off his historic trip Prince William Just Became the First Royal to Touch Down in Israel for Official Visit William, 36, left Amman after two successful days highlighting the links between Britain and Jordan, visiting archeological ruins and building a new friendship with Crown Prince Hussein, 23. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Now comes the more challenging part of his Middle East tour, as the royal dad endeavors to build bridges, cement old friendships and see for himself the communities that make up both historic Jerusalem and the disputed territories he is also set to tour. Prince William Middle East Tour, Tel Aviv, Israel - 25 Jun 2018 Prince William arriving in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 25, 2018. | Credit: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock “The complex challenges in the region are of course well known,” William’s spokesman, Jason Knauf, said in a run-up to the historic visit. “The non-political nature of His Royal Highness’s role — in common with all Royal visits overseas — allows a spotlight to be brought to bear on the people of the region: their cultures, their young people, their aspirations, and their experiences.” “In cities with storied histories that are never far from the headlines, The Duke’s goal will be to meet as many people from as many walks of life as possible,” Knauf said, “and to use the spotlight that his visit will bring to celebrate their hopes for the future.” Prince William Middle East Tour, Tel Aviv, Israel - 25 Jun 2018 Prince William in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 25, 2018. | Credit: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock RELATED VIDEO: Commercial Flights, Color-Coded Luggage & More: Here’s How to Travel Like Your Favorite Royals William is staying at the famed King David Hotel in Jerusalem and will begin Tuesday at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center also located in the Israeli capital.<doc-sep>
LONDON -- The Duke of Cambridge will land in Israel Monday evening for the first official visit to the Holy Land by a member of the British royal family. During his three-day trip, Prince William will visit Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Jerusalem and Ramallah, also marking the first visit to the West Bank, which is occupied by Israel, by a member of the royal family at the invitation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israeli officials have long expressed frustration with the British royals for not making official visits to the country despite several unofficial and more private visits. But now that the visit is finally happening, Israeli officials are concerned about the palace's language, especially after U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The prince's official itinerary lists Jerusalem as part of the "Occupied Palestinian Territories." Zeev Elkin, an Israeli Cabinet member and Jerusalem affairs minister, complained on Facebook that a "distortion" cannot "change reality." “It’s regrettable that Britain chose to politicize the Royal visit,” Elkin also said, according to the Israeli publication, Ynet. British royals specifically avoid politics, though the visit is certainly a more sensitive diplomatic one compared to Prince William's most recent trips to Canada, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. All royal foreign trips are taken at the direction of the foreign commonwealth office and the British government considers the Palestinian territories -- including East Jerusalem -- to be occupied by Israel. Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 war from Jordan and annexed it in a move not internationally recognized. "The historic nature of this tour is, of course, important and The Duke considers it a great privilege to be undertaking the first ever official Royal tour of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories," said Kensington Palace in a statement. "More importantly, however, The Duke is looking forward to building a real and enduring relationship with the people of the region." Prince William arrived in Jordan Sunday for the first leg of his trip, hosted by Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II. "The ties between our royal families stretch back over generations," the duke said in a speech last night. "My grandmother, the queen, and His Late Majesty King Hussein ascended to the throne exactly one month apart in 1952. The queen to this day talks fondly of the special bond of friendship that existed between them. Your Royal Highnesses, I look forward to continuing to strengthen this bond between our Families in the years to come." Monday morning, Prince William visited a new military base Monday morning. And he met a group of Syrian refugee children with UNICEF's Makani program, which offers psychological support for parents and children. In the first century Roman city of Jerash, the Duke of Cambridge and Jordan's Crown Prince visited another group of Syrian refugee children in a photography program. Also in Jerash, he snapped a photo in the same spot where his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, visited at age 4. Describing the visit to Jerash, Kensington Palace said, "It is, by the way, the site where the young Catherine Middleton is pictured standing on a pile of stones with her father and young sister when the Middleton family lived in Jordan." In the same speech Sunday night, the prince said: "My wife Catherine is very sorry she cannot be here with me so soon after the birth of our son Louis, but her family remembers very fondly the almost three years she spent here as a child when her father worked for British Airways in Amman." The Duke of Cambridge traveled with the Crown Prince, telling him: “The way in which you opened your doors to hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria, not to mention your longstanding commitments to Palestinian refugees, is remarkable," according to Kensington Palace's twitter account. And amid official engagements, the two also watched a rerun of England's world cup win Sunday night. On Tuesday in Jerusalem, Prince William will visit the Yad Vashem, Jerusalem's Holocaust museum and meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, as well as Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. He will then attend a soccer game sponsored by a nongovernment organization, including both Israeli and Palestinian children playing in Jaffa, the ancient Arab port city just south of Tel Aviv. The duke will start the day in Tel Aviv Wednesday morning, "with a visit that we are really looking forward to, but will not be announcing in advance," Kensington Palace said.