US President Donald Trump is expected in Israel on Monday, the eve of the Simchat Torah holiday, for an extremely brief visit lasting just a few hours, timed to coincide with or immediately follow the arrival of the freed hostages in Israel. According to the current planning, the visit will last only three hours and forty minutes.
Based on the still provisional protocol, Air Force One is scheduled to land at Ben-Gurion Airport at 9:20 a.m. Due to the short duration of the visit, only a brief welcoming ceremony will take place—no speeches, no anthems. There will be a red carpet, an honor guard, and handshakes. Trump will be received by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, the US and Israeli ambassadors, and their wives. Ministers and members of the inner government staff are not invited.
Immediately afterward, Trump will travel in his famous armored limousine, “The Beast,” on the Tel Aviv–Jerusalem highway, which will be closed in both directions, directly to the Knesset.
His arrival at the Knesset is expected at 10:10 a.m., likely via the entrance for Knesset members. He may sign the guestbook in the entrance hall. A meeting between Trump and Netanyahu is then scheduled in the Prime Minister’s office in the Knesset. Afterward, Trump and Netanyahu will meet with hostage families in the Chagall Hall. A review of whether Trump could also meet recently released hostages was declined—for medical reasons and to avoid further burdening those who are in a state of great distress and possibly trauma.
At 11:00 a.m., Trump will deliver a speech at the Knesset’s plenary session.
Following this, he is expected to leave Israel immediately without staying at the King David Hotel, where two floors are reserved for him. A visit to the Western Wall is not planned but could still be added—the final schedule will be confirmed on Sunday.
From Ben-Gurion, Trump will fly to Cairo to attend a historic summit with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Arab and European heads of state and government. The topic is the “post-war period in the Gaza Strip.” Israel is not invited to this event, which is intended to symbolically seal the end of the war. Among the participants are France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Ahead of the visit, the US military has transported heavy equipment to Israel, including Trump’s limousine, escort vehicles, and security gear.
The Israel Airports Authority warns of significant traffic disruptions around Ben-Gurion Airport from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Travelers are urgently requested to use Israel Railways and arrive at the airport at least four hours before their flight.
All international flights scheduled to depart from Terminal 1 on Monday (October 13) will be redirected to Terminal 3. Domestic flights to and from Ramon may also face changes or cancellations. Taxi services to the airport will be suspended during the closure times. The airport authority asks for the understanding and patience of travelers on this historic day.
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