Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump Meet With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

The meetings took place a day ahead of the first presidential debate.

ByABC News
September 26, 2016, 9:21 AM

— -- Israel's prime minister tweeted this morning about his meetings yesterday with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, saying, "After meeting with 2 leading candidates for POTUS, I'm more convinced than ever that Israel-US bond will remain strong after the elections.

Republican nominee Trump met with Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday morning at Trump Tower. Democrat Clinton met the Israeli leader in the evening at The W Hotel USQ in Manhattan.

Netanyahu was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly meeting.

The press was barred from covering Trump's meeting with the prime minister but offices for both said they discussed Israeli security and efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East. Their meeting lasted over an hour and included discussion of the Iran nuclear deal, of which Trump and Netanyahu are fierce critics; military assistance; security; and regional stability.

"Mr. Trump recognized that Israel and its citizens have suffered far too long on the front lines of Islamic terrorism," said a statement from Trump’s office. "He agreed with Prime Minister Netanyahu that the Israeli people want a just and lasting peace with their neighbors, but that peace will only come when the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish State,”

According to Netanyahu’s office, "Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked Mr. Trump for his friendship and support for Israel.”

Trump, in 2013, recorded a video endorsing Netanyahu.

Clinton met with the Israeli leader in the evening.

A post on the Israeli prime minister's Facebook page said the meeting lasted nearly an hour and included Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer and Jake Sullivan, a policy adviser to Clinton's campaign.

"PM Netanyahu discussed with Secretary Clinton a broad range of issues relating to advancing peace and stability in the Middle East as well as the potential for economic growth through technological innovation," the statement said. "Mr. Netanyahu thanked Secretary Clinton for her friendship and support for Israel."

The candidates' meetings with the Israeli leader take place a day before Trump and Clinton face off at their first general election presidential debate Monday night at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.

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