Trump made the gaffe during a diplomacy tour meeting in Israel on Monday
He said he'd just come 'back from the Middle East... Saudi Arabia'
Israel is just 90 miles away from Saudi Arabia at the countries' closest points
Ambassador Ron Dermer was caught on film putting his head in his hand
He then turned that into a sweep of his hair as he composed himself
By James Wilkinson For Dailymail.com
The Israeli ambassador to the US was left clutching his head in what appeared to be both amusement and despair during Donald Trump's appearance in Israel on Monday.
Trump was in a bilateral meeting with President Reuven Rivlin of Israel during his ongoing diplomacy tour when he implied that the country was not, in fact in the Middle East.
That left Ambassador Ron Dermer, who was spectating from the sidelines, throwing his hand up to his face - and the whole thing was caught on film.
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Chuckle: Trump's remark left an ambassador smirking
Gaffes and laughs: In Donald Trump's meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (both left), Trump implied Israel wasn't in the Middle East. That left an ambassador (right) smirking
Trump's comments leave Israeli ambassador scratching his head
Trump's meeting had been going well up to that point, with the assembled dignitaries chuckling along to his jokes.
But while enthusing about the 'incredible job' performed by new Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Trump mentioned that he had just flown from a meeting with the heads of Saudi Arabia.
'We just got back from the Middle East,' Trump told the room. 'We just got back from Saudi Arabia.'
Israel and Saudi Arabia are the US's strongest allies in the Middle East.
They are separated only by the country of Jordan, and the nearest points on their borders are just 90 miles apart.
Dermer's reaction to the gaffe was immediate; he threw his hand up to his face with a smirk.
At that point, some of his ambassadorial poise appears to kick in and he turns the facepalm into a sweep of the hair.
He scratches his eyebrow as he composes himself, and then returns his attention to Trump's speech.
No smirking room: Ron Dermer, Israeli ambassador to the US, then swept his hand through his hair (left) and scratched his eyebrow (right) as he composed himself
The visit was the second day of Trump's diplomatic tour of the Middle East, and began with him visiting the West Wall of Jerusalem, where he and his family offered up prayers.
On Monday evening he spoke of his hope for peace in the Middle East, and America's role in those meetings.
'We're going to have very productive discussions, in my opinion, with the leaders of other nations,' Trump said, referring to Muslim countries.
'And I feel strongly about that, because there's a lot of love out there.
'People from all nations - even nations you would be surprised to hear - they want to stop the killing. They've had enough.'
President Donald Trump listens as he is introduced to deliver a speech at the Israel Museum +5
President Donald Trump listens as he is introduced to deliver a speech at the Israel Museum
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4534054/Israeli-diplomat-facepalms-Trump-s-Middle-East-gaffe.html#ixzz4iNNKO7B2
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