US President Joe Biden landed in Israel for his first official visit to the Jewish State as President and his tenth visit overall.
"It's an honor to once again stand with friends and visit the independent Jewish State of Israel," President Biden said that the beginning of his remarks upon landing.
He repeated a saying he is fond of: "You need not be a Jew to be a Zionist."
"Any chance to return to this great country, where the ancient roots of the Jewish people date to Biblical times, is a blessing, because the connection between the Israeli people and the American people is bone-deep.
"Generation after generation, that connection grows. We invest in each other, we dream together, we're part of what has always been: the objective we both have," he said.
"And now as President, I am proud to say that our relationship is deeper and stronger than it has ever been. With this visit, we are strengthening our connections even further. We have reaffirmed the unshakeable commitment of the United States to Israel's security, including partnering with Israel on the most cutting-edge defense systems in the world,
He said that his visit was an opportunity for "greater, peace, greater stability, greater connection for all people of the region," though he acknowledged that the Two-State Solution would not be achieved in the "near term."