Israel plans to name a train station after President Donald Trump next week, a second namesake for Trump in the country.
“Here, in the Old City of Jerusalem, we will build the Western Wall & Temple Mount train station. It will be named after @realDonaldTrump, who made history and recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The official announcement will take place on Israel’s Independence Day,” Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz tweeted Tuesday.
The station is found in the vicinity of the Western Wall and Temple Mount.
Here, in the Old City of Jerusalem, we will build the Western Wall & Temple Mount train station. It will be named after @realDonaldTrump, who made history and recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The official announcement will take place on Israel’s Independence Day. pic.twitter.com/0b40afUngj
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) April 30, 2019
The plan was first announced in late 2017, a month after Trump announced the official recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and announced plans to move the U.S. embassy there.
Then, Katz said the station would be renamed in honor of Trump’s “brave and historic decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital,” Times of Israel reported at the time.
The renaming announcement in 2017 was part of a four-year $700 million renovation project announced at the time. The project would introduce underground high-speed rail and provide connections between major sites like the Western Wall, Ben-Gurion Airport and more.
It’s the second fixture in Israel to be named after Trump.
Last month, Israel said it would name a town in Golan Heights after Trump to commemorate his “historic decision” to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the region.
“All Israelis were deeply moved when President Trump made his historic decision to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” Netanyahu said in a video statement. “Therefore, after the Passover holiday, I intend to bring to the government a resolution calling for a new community on the Golan Heights named after President Donald J. Trump.”
PM Netanyahu will present to the government a resolution calling for naming a new community in the Golan Heights after @POTUS Donald Trump, as a token of appreciation for his recognition of Israel’s eternal sovereignty over the Golan. pic.twitter.com/buGR93lAob
— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) April 23, 2019
Golan Heights was formerly a part of Syria, and seized by Israel during the 1967 Arab War. Israel has since maintained control over the 690-square-mile-region and the territory has been recognized internationally as Israel’s.
Syria attempted to reclaim the region five years later during the 1973 Middle East War, but Israel repelled the attack.
Netanyahu recently secured his fifth term as prime minister. His win and continued popularity have been attributed by some to his close ties with President Trump.
