The massive "Blue Shield 6" security operation has entered its first phase in Israel for the arrival of the US president, scheduled for 9:20 a.m. local time (8:20 a.m. GMT) on Monday morning . It will be his first visit since returning to the White House in January; the last time was in 2017, during his first international trip as president of the previous term. At Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, American flags are already flying alongside those of the host country.
The US president's lightning visit will begin with a brief ceremony: Trump will be welcomed by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, and opposition leader Yair Lapid. The commander-in-chief will then travel by armored convoy to the Knesset in Jerusalem, where he will sign the guest book and visit the office of Parliament Speaker Amir Ohana. At 10:45 a.m., he will meet with the prime minister, President Herzog, and the hostages' families, and at 11 a.m., he will address the plenary session. Protocol dictates that the US president deliver his speech after Ohana, Netanyahu, and Lapid have spoken. Trump will then return to the airport, where he will depart around 1:00 p.m. (an hour earlier in Italy) for Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to attend the historic summit with regional and European leaders. At Ben Gurion Airport, workers rolled out a 50-meter red carpet at Terminal 1 where Air Force One will land.
The area is closed to travelers, who will face significant disruptions on Monday in reaching the international airport: for security reasons, Highway 1 and other main roads will be closed, meaning private traffic, shuttles, and taxis will not be able to operate. Trains to and from the airport have been increased between 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, but passengers have been advised that due to the expected crowds, they will need to arrive at the stations well in advance. The airport authority has also informed departing travelers that the usual three-hour advance for arrivals has been extended to over four hours. If possible, it is best to reschedule reservations for the day. Some flights to and from Ramon Airport will be changed or canceled. On Saturday, cargo planes arrived in Israel carrying limousines, armored vehicles, and special equipment. Israeli authorities have deployed 4,000 officers. US flags have been placed along the highway from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem "as a symbol of welcome and strengthening ties between the two countries."
(Unioneonline)