Israeli President Isaac Herzog hosted a ceremony Thursday afternoon in Jerusalem, to honor President Joe Biden and to present him with the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor.
At the ceremony, which was attended by Prime Minister Yair Lapid, President Herzog lauded Biden as a “lifelong friend of Israel”, and praised his “advocacy” on behalf of the US-Israel partnership.
“You have been a faithful, lifelong friend of the State of Israel and the Jewish People,” said Herzog. “Your tireless advocacy of the enduring U.S.-Israel partnership, in word and in deed, has truly withstood the test of time.”
“Your journey of peace here in the Middle East comes at the pivotal hour of a challenged world order. The aftershocks of the pandemic are colliding with tragic war in Ukraine, while extremism displaces dialogue, as our planet runs out of time. I believe that a strong and vibrant U.S.-Israel partnership has seldom been more critical to our countries, to the Middle East, and to global stability and sustainability, peace and prosperity, democracy and decency.”
Highlighting this year’s Negev Summit and President Biden’s direct flight Friday from Israel to Saudi Arabia, Herzog expressed optimism regarding the possible expansion of the Abraham Accords.
“A strong and secure nation-state of the Jewish People in the Land of Israel, is critical to the safety and future of the Jewish People. And now, we have the opportunity, thanks in large part to the support of your administration and the Abraham Accords, to envision one step further.”
“Together, we can create not only a new Middle East but a Renewable Middle East: a regional ecosystem of sustainable peace.”
[קישורים:4:Biden visits Israel]
“Under your leadership, we can continue transforming our region from a source of global tension to a source of global stability and progress. The Middle East can grow into a meeting point for climate innovation and combined medical research, clean energy and peaceful exchange among faiths and peoples. This is the blessing you will bring in the coming days to your meetings in Riyadh.”
Turning to Iran, Herzog said the US “are united in our opposition to Iran’s terror and that of its proxies, and to Iran's drive for a nuclear weapons capability, which is the greatest threat to this region, and perhaps the world at large.”
“We know the United States is committed to Israel's security, as you have reiterated throughout this visit. This was underscored in the important joint Jerusalem Declaration which you and Prime Minister Lapid agreed upon today, echoing your own ironclad, unshakeable commitment to Israel's security and well-being. I commend your administration's crystal-clear moral stance against all forms of antisemitism and delegitimization of Israel around the world. Thank you for always standing by us.”