Netanyahu, Rubio Underscore Strong US-Israel Alliance During Western Wall Visit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed Sunday that the alliance between Israel and the United States “has never been stronger” as he joined US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in prayer at the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s holiest sites.

Rubio, a devout Catholic, and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, an evangelical Protestant pastor, accompanied Netanyahu during the visit. The three donned kippas and stood together in silent prayer, touching the ancient stones of the revered site.

Following the prayer, the delegation toured excavated remains beneath the Western Wall, where parts of the Second Temple—destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD—are preserved. The officials later posed for photographs underground with their wives, who were not permitted at the male-only prayer area above.

Netanyahu hailed Rubio as “an extraordinary friend of Israel,” stressing that the visit reflected the resilience of the partnership between Washington and Tel Aviv.

“I think his visit here is a testament to the durability and the strength of the Israel-American alliance,” Netanyahu said. “It is as strong and as enduring as the stones of the Western Wall that we just touched.”

He further emphasized that under Rubio and US President Donald Trump, bilateral ties had reached new heights. “The alliance has never been stronger, and we deeply appreciate it,” he added.

The remarks came despite recent tension following Israeli air strikes in Qatar targeting Hamas leaders. Both Trump and Rubio had expressed concern over the strikes against the Gulf nation, which is a close US partner. Rubio said he intended to raise the issue with Netanyahu but stressed that it would not undermine ties.

Rubio is the highest-ranking US official to visit the Western Wall since 2019, when then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joined Netanyahu at the site. That visit was seen as highly symbolic, as previous US administrations had avoided official visits to signal neutrality over the site, which also houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque—Islam’s third-holiest shrine.