Donald Trump cancelled a planned visit to the ancient fortress of Masada in Israel after he was reportedly told he could not land his helicopter on to
Donald Trump cancelled a planned visit to the ancient fortress of Masada in Israel after he was reportedly told he could not land his helicopter on top of the Unesco-listed site. The US President was due to give a speech at the top of the rocky plateau in the Judaean Desert but instead will deliver his address at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
Mr Trump’s aides were reportedly told landing a helicopter on the summit of the site, which is described by Unesco of ‘majestic beauty’, could damage the archaeological artefacts due to the wind movement generated. Eitan Campbell, director of Masada National Park said “The Americans will land in the Bar Yehuda landing strip. They will go up to the mountain by cable car.”
Previously both Presidents George W Bush and Bill Clinton took the cable car to visit the historic site, but Mr Trump’s aides reportedly refused the invitation and cancelled the trip altogether.
In Israel, helicopters were banned from landing at the top of the country’s most famous archaeological park after some of the ruins were damaged when in 1997 an Israeli Air Force helicopter carrying then-US Air Force commander General Michael Ryan landed in the middle of Masada.
Mr Campbell said a helicopter landing would be allowed at the site only in the case of an emergency.
Masada was built by the King of Judaea, Herod the Great, during his reign between 37 – 4 BC. Unesco describes it as a symbol of the ancient kingdom of Israel, when Jewish soldiers defended the fortress from the Roman army in 73 AD.
Masada Ancient Fortress
