Israelis and Palestinians are “ready for peace”, according to Donald Trump.

The US president delivered his message of optimism at the Israel Museum, shortly before ending his whirlwind visit to the country.

His remarks came after his meetings with Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Mr Trump, now en route to the Vatican, said: "The Palestinians are ready to reach for peace. I know you've heard it before. I am telling you, that's what I do. They are ready to reach for peace."

Earlier this month Mr Trump, who is the first serving US president to have visited the Western Wall, said brokering peace is “maybe not as difficult as people have thought”.

Yet today he admitted that: “Making peace, however, will not be easy. We all know that. Both sides will face tough decisions. But with determination, compromise and the belief that peace is possible, Israelis and Palestinians can make a deal.”

While he acknowledged Jerusalem as a “sacred city” he made no reference to his pledge to move the US embassy to the capital city.

He said: “Conflict cannot continue forever. The only question is when nations will decide that they have had enough - enough bloodshed, enough killing.

“Change must come from within - it can only come from within.”

.@POTUS at the @IsraelMuseum: I ask this land of promise to join me to fight our common enemies, pursue our shared values.#POTUSAbroad pic.twitter.com/QbQll2WJOU

— Department of State (@StateDept) May 23, 2017

Mr Trump and the First Lady Melania had a send off from Mr Netanyahu and his wife Sara as they boarded Air Force One.

Mr Netanyahu tweeted a picture of the four of them, captioned: “Even stronger”.