US President Joe Biden on Monday arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel for the opening leg of his first go to to the Center East since taking workplace in January 2021.
The president’s aircraft touched down at Ben Gurion Airport at 3.09 pm native time, roughly 11 hours after he left Washington. Mr Biden emerged from Air Power One at 3.30 pm, and was greeted by a gaggle of Israeli officers, together with President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Yair Laid, Deputy Prime Minister Naftali Bennet, and Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy.
Talking at a welcome ceremony, Mr Biden mentioned it was “an honour to as soon as once more stand with associates and go to the impartial Jewish state of Israel”.
Mr Biden recalled how on his first journey to the nation in 1973, he’d met then-Prime Minister Golda Meir and one among her aides, future prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, and confused that he’d had the honour of assembly each Israeli head of presidency since then.
“I’ve recognized each single Prime Minister and it’s been an honour to type sturdy working relations with every of them,” mentioned Mr Biden, who added that this go to — his first as president — is his tenth journey to the nation.
“Each probability to return to this nice nation, the place the traditional roots of the Jewish folks date again to Biblical occasions, is a blessing,” he mentioned. “As a result of the connection between the Israeli folks and the American folks is bone deep”.
Mr Herzog, the Israeli president, welcomed Mr Biden, who he known as “our brother Joseph” to the nation, and mentioned the US chief is a “true good friend” of the Israeli nation.
“Just like the biblical Joseph. You’re each a visionary and a frontrunner, dedicated to advancing the USA of America, the Center East, the world at giant and the State of Israel,” he mentioned.
Mr Lapid famous that Mr Biden had as soon as described himself as a Zionist.
“You mentioned that you do not have to be a Jew as a way to be a large Zionist and also you had been proper,” he mentioned. “And in your case, an ideal Zionist and the most effective associates Israel has ever recognized”.
Mr Biden is scheduled to spend two days in Israel, throughout which he’ll go to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, attend the opening ceremony of the Macabbiah Video games — an Olympic-style multi-sport occasion for Jewish athletes — and take part within the inaugural assembly of the “I2U2” group alongside Israeli, Emerati, and Indian leaders.
The president will even go to the West Financial institution on Friday for a gathering with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas earlier than flying to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to satisfy with Saudi officers and leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council nations.
“We’ve got a full agenda over the subsequent few days,” Mr Biden mentioned. “As a result of the connection between Israel and the USA covers each problem that issues to our mutual futures”.
