BICOM

On his first full day in Israel Prince William took part in a wreath laying ceremony and met with Jews who were rescued by Britain as children, was welcomed by President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and had a kick-about on the beach in Tel Aviv.

The Duke of Cambridge began the day visiting Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre, and laid a wreath at the Hall of Remembrance, before being guided around the museum where he signed the guestbook.

“It has been a profoundly moving experience to visit Yad Vashem today. It is almost impossible to comprehend this appalling event in history. Every name, photograph and memory recorded here is a tragic reminder of the loss suffered by the Jewish people. We all have a responsibility to remember and to teach future generations about the horrors of the past so that they can never reoccur,” the prince wrote.

Prince William then met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin at their respective residences in Jerusalem. Prince William gave President Rivlin a Liverpool shirt signed by Steve Gerrard and President Rivlin asked the Prince to convey “a message of peace” to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas when he meets the Palestinian leader later today. Prince William replied: “I, like you, look forward to understanding lots about the region and about hoping that peace in the area can be achieved,” he said.

In the afternoon Prince William joined a beach volleyball game on Frishman beach and spoke with lifeguards patrolling the area. Earlier in nearby Jaffa, William joined a football match with Jewish and Arab youths as part of an event promoting co-existence.

In the evening at the British ambassador’s residence in Ramat Gan Prince William gave a speech in the presence of Prime Minister Netanyahu, Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev, Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, incoming Jewish Agency leader Isaac Herzog and US Ambassador David Friedman.

Prince William spoke of “Israel’s remarkable story” as “one of inventing, creating, innovating, and striding confidently into its future.” He said that “the ties between our two countries have never been stronger, whether in our record levels of trade and investment, our cooperation in science and technology; or the work we do together to keep our people safe”.

On the peace process, the Prince said: “Never has hope and reconciliation been more needed. I know I share a desire with all of you, and with your neighbours, for a just and lasting peace.”