The U.S. Embassy Jerusalem hosted a celebration of the US's 246th Independence.
The official program began at 7:45 pm Israel time, and featured speeches by US Ambassador Tom Nides, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and Israeli Alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Nides addressed those in attendance by praising the long, fruitful relationship between the US and Israel. "We're both nations of immigrants," he said, adding: "[That offers] a lot of diversity and value."
"158 years [after America declared its independence] when President Truman was the first world leader to recognize the State of Israel, he did so knowing that the history of the Jewish people and that of the United States were bound together," said Nides.
President Herzog called the US an, "inspiration to the world since its founding more than two centuries ago."
Herzog said he awaited the arrival of President Biden in a week's time, referring to the US leader as a staunch supporter of Israel and a "long-time Zionist."
Alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the connection between the US and Israel is based on both being a "persecuted people who fled their homeland."
Bennett invoked the Jewish People's deliverance from Egypt as the inspiration for the American founding fathers and their steadfast belief in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The former premier ended the evening by telling the story of his father, Jim, who spent a night in jail while protesting segregation in San Francisco in the 1960s and who also immigrated to Israel, fought in the Yom Kippur War and raised a religious family. "Being a patriot doesn't contradict supporting equality," pointed out Bennett.