Prince William is set to arrive in Israel and the Palestinian territories this week for the first official visit of a member of the British royal family, ending the monarchy's decades-long mostly hands-off approach to one of the world's most sensitive regions.
Though the trip is being billed as non-political, and places a special emphasis on technology and joint Israeli-Arab projects, the Duke of Cambridge will also be meeting with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders and visiting landmark Jerusalem sites at the heart of the century-old conflict.
The prince kicks off his Middle East visit tomorrow in Jordan where we will meet refugees from the civil war in neighbouring Syria and tour the famous archaeological site at Jerash, where his wife, the former Catherine Middleton, once visited when her family lived in Jordan.
On Monday he will arrive in Israel and stay in Jerusalem's King David Hotel, the elegant British-era edifice. From there he will visit coastal Tel Aviv, Israel's financial and cultural capital, and Ramallah in the West Bank, seat of the Palestinian autonomy government. On the docket are scheduled meetings with young entrepreneurs, visits to Israel's vibrant tech and media sectors and meetings with young Jewish and Arab football players.
Kensington Palace, William's official residence, said the visit was aimed "to meet as many people from as many walks of life as possible - and use the spotlight that his visit will bring to celebrate their hopes for the future."
But politics have already seeped into the agenda. The royal itinerary mentioned Jerusalem as being part of "the Occupied Palestinian Territories," angering Israeli politicians. Jerusalem Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin - who is running for mayor of the city in this year's elections - called the reference a "distortion" that cannot "change reality."
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