Former California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, took part on Tuesday in a special celebration for Israel’s Independence Day at the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles. Schwarzenegger took a few moments to greet Israel on the occasion of its 63rd birthday.

“I’ve had the pleasure of being [in Israel] many times,” Schwarzenegger said. “I’ve seen it from a bodybuilding point of view, I’ve seen it from a tourist’s point of view, from an entertainer’s point of view, from a governor’s point of view. I’ve been a long time friend of Israel and have been there many times, and I look forward to going there many more times.”

Schwarzenegger wished Israel “another 63 years of great joy, peace, a thriving economy and everyone being happy.”

In 2009 when he served as governor of California, Schwarzenegger and then Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Binyamin Ben-Eliezer signed a document of understandings regarding industrial cooperation in the field of renewable energy.