Calling it a very touching moment for me,” Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spoke at the US Embassy in Jerusalem’s celebration of the 245th Independence Day of the United States.
Bennett noted that part of his childhood was spent in the United States. He reminisced about his American experience, including memories of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every morning at school.
He also spoke about his parents who were born and raised in San Francisco.
“On behalf of the people of Israel I’d like to wish all of you a very happy Independence Day,” Bennett said. “Two hundred and forty-five years ago the founding fathers of the United States of American put down those amazing words, ‘We hold these truths self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights and among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’ And this proclamation has echoed down generations. Inspiring people all around the world to follow in the footsteps of America’s founders.”
Bennett added that Israel’s Declaration of Independence in 1948 “reaffirmed these very commitments to those principles.”
Likewise, he remarked that the connection between Israel and the US runs very deep as the founding fathers were very well versed in the Bible.
“The revolutionary ideas expressed by American’s founding fathers sprung from their faith in and deep understanding of the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh,” Bennett said. “They founded America on the very principles of the Bible. They saw the Bible’s insights into human nature, civic virtue, social order and political authority as essential to the establishment of this new great nation America. Being decent. Being good. Discerning between good and bad. Respecting your parents. Respecting elders. Helping the weak. Applying justice.”
Biden said that Israel and the US will continue to work together.
“We’re going to work together to make this grow more and more. We’re doing amazing stuff, great startups,” he said. “We’re going to work with the new administration and with Congress to upgrade our friendship and partnership.”