Trump denies leaking Israeli secrets to Russia

‘Ultimate deal’ can be done

US president Donald Trump said he never mentioned “the word or the name Israel” during a recent conversation with top Russian diplomats.

Speaking alongside Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Trump was referencing revelations that he divulged classified information about an Islamic State threat during a recent meeting in Washington with Russia’s foreign minister and ambassador.

US officials said the information originated from Israel.

Mr Trump, who is making his first visit to Israel as US president, said: “I never mentioned the word or the name Israel in that conversation.”

Mr Netanyahu added that US-Israeli intelligence co-operation is “terrific”.

Mr Trump said the story is another one the news media has gotten wrong.

However, news accounts have not accused Mr Trump of naming Israel as a source of the information.

Earlier yesterday, on Mr Trump’s first visit to Israel as president, he said he sees a growing recognition among Muslim nations that they share a “common cause” with Israel in their determination to counter threats posed by Iran.

Arriving from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Mr Trump expressed his hope for cooperation among US allies in the Middle East.

Israel was his second stop on a nine-day tour aimed to test the waters for reviving the dormant Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Mr Trump said that conditions were right in both Israel and the Arab world to strike what he has called “the ultimate deal”.

“We have before us a rare opportunity to bring security and stability and peace to this region and to its people,” Mr Trump said upon his arrival in Tel Aviv.

“I never mentioned the word or name Israel”