President William Ruto prayed at the Wailing Wall on his first visit to Jerusalem, Israel, on Tuesday, May 9.
Ruto was received by the director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, Mordechai Eliav, who narrated the long and enchanting history of the wall, also called the historical site.
“We should never face the isolation and prejudice against our brothers and sisters of the Jewish nation.
“That we shall be united as a people in peace as one people under God,” Ruto prayed, wishing the Israelites peace and tranquillity.
The head of state alluded to the prejudice against the Jewish people that led to the Holocaust. More than six million Jews were killed under dictator Adolf Hitler’s rule in Germany and spread to other European countries.
This prejudice acted as a catalyst for the formation of the modern State of Israel, which gained its independence on May 14, 1948.
“Israel is a great place. It is good that I have come to Israel.
“Even though there are difficulties everywhere in the world but coming to the Holy Land is my greatest pleasure,” Ruto told the audience that was with him.
Ruto then prayed at the Wall before sticking a written prayer note inside one of its cracks, as is the custom for many tourists.
Earlier, in the day, Ruto signed a raft of deals with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem. His wife and First Lady, Rachel Ruto, and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Alfred Mutua, accompanied him to the Asian nation.
The Wailing Wall, also called the Western Wall or the Kotel, is an ancient limestone wall in the Old City of Jerusalem on Temple Mount Hill.
It also has underground tunnels that have remained intact for nearly 2,000 years.
Interestingly, the wall construction is believed to have begun in the time of King Herod the Great.
