On July 27, 1986, Vice President George H. W. Bush visited Jerusalem, Israel, during an official trip to the Middle East. During the visit, Bush went to the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, a religious site in the Old City of Jerusalem.
According to multiple contemporary reports, as Bush approached the Western Wall he placed his hands on the stones and then kissed the wall after following an Israeli official’s example. Photographs from the visit show Bush wearing a skullcap and touching or kissing the stones while standing in front of the wall. The events were part of his public itinerary during the visit and were covered by news media at the time.
This action occurred while Bush was serving as Vice President of the United States, before his presidency, and was documented by press agencies reporting on his trip and public diplomacy in the region.
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