President Reuven Rivlin met on Tuesday afternoon with US Secretary of State John Kerry at the Presidential Residence.
Rivlin stressed the high importance of the shared values between the two countries. He said, "You are here as a friend of Israel, and as a leader of Israel’s greatest friend, and most important ally - the United States of America. We always say our friendship is one of shared values, and a shared vision. But it is important, to emphasize what this means. It means our countries, our societies, could look in a mirror and see the other looking back. We see the similarities, in our Supreme Courts, and in our protection of the freedoms of speech and religion. We see it in the way, different communities, live together, and build a strong and healthy democracy."
The President stressed, "All free nations are facing the threat of radical Islam - which is the product of hate not of faith - and all of us must work together against this great evil. We do not need to apologize for our belief in freedom.”