Wills trip to Israel and Palestine after bloodbath
PRINCE William is to visit Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian Territories next month despite heightened tensions and outbreaks of violence in the region.
Just a week ago, 58 Palestinians were killed and 2,400 injured by Israeli troops in clashes over the US moving its embassy to Jerusalem.
But, in what will be the future king’s most diplomatically sensitive foreign tour to date, William is to go ahead with his trip in the aftermath of the bloodshed on the Gaza border – the worst outbreak of fighting since 2014. On the tour, which is at the request of the British Government, he will visit the holy city, as well as Tel Aviv, before the Palestinian leg of the trip sees him travel to Ramallah on the West Bank.
William will not be accompanied by the Duchess of Cambridge, who is on maternity leave following Prince Louis’ birth last month.
His trip has been welcomed by governments in the region, with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu describing it as ‘historic’. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has also hailed the trip – the first official visit by any member of the Royal Family to the Occupied Palestinian Territories – as a ‘unique and special opportunity’.
While individual royals have visited Israel in a private capacity, there has never been an official trip on behalf of the Government.
Most recently Prince Charles has been there twice to pay respects at state funerals, and visited the grave of his great-grandmother, Princess Alice, Prince Philip’s mother. Philip visited in 1994.
Palace officials have said the visit is designed to promote cultural and diplomatic ties with the region, with William, 35, expected to spend time with senior politicians, visit local charities and ‘ get to know’ the people of the Middle East.
With the Queen no longer undertaking long-haul travel at the age of 92, any visit by Charles as her heir is now akin to a state visit. The trip by William, as second in line, is therefore seen as a means to pave the way for further highprofile tours of the region.
He will be accompanied by one of the country’s most experienced diplomats, former ambassador to the US, Sir David Manning, who is seen as a mentor to the prince. BICOM, the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre, and think-tank, suggested the prince would meet the Israeli president and PM, visit a Holocaust remembrance centre and go to the Mount of Olives to visit his great-grandmother’s grave.
In the West Bank it is anticipated he will meet the Palestinian Authority chairman and visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity. The prince’s visit to Jerusalem will be seen as controversial by some Palestinians as Israeli control over the city is not internationally recognised.
A source said Palestinian authorities had still been extremely keen for the royal visit to go ahead, despite the ongoing tensions.
‘Unique and special opportunity’