Arriving in Israel, Rubio Meets Netanyahu at Jerusalem’s Western Wall

Secretary of State Marco Rubio began his visit to Israel with a visit on Sunday to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, welcomed him with an affirmation of the U.S.-Israel relationship, even as it is tested by the war in Gaza.

“I think his visit here is a testament to the durability, the strength of the Israeli-American alliance,” Mr. Netanyahu told reporters. “It’s as strong, as durable as the stones in the Western Wall that he just touched. Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio and their entire team, this alliance has never been stronger.”

Mr. Rubio visited the wall in Jerusalem’s Old City shortly after landing. He is visiting Israel to consult with officials on several security issues, including the war in Gaza. Before departing Washington on Saturday, Mr. Rubio told reporters that he would emphasize Mr. Trump’s impatience for an end to the war in Gaza, as well as Mr. Trump’s concern that Israel’s airstrike against Hamas leaders in Qatar last week might set back efforts to reach a cease-fire deal with the group.

Mr. Rubio, who is also Mr. Trump’s national security adviser, was joined at the wall by Mike Huckabee, the American ambassador to Israel. The two Americans joined Mr. Netanyahu in placing prayer notes into the wall’s cracks. They did not take questions from reporters.