Washington, D.C. - Nov. 12, 2024 - President Isaac Herzog today, Tuesday, met with US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House.
In their third meeting in the Washington as presidents, President Herzog thanked President Biden for his longstanding friendship with Israel and the Jewish people.
President Biden: “Mr. President, welcome back to the Oval Office, to the White House. You're a long time a personal friend. And, you know that my commitment to Israel is ironclad, and we share a deep friendship. I want to thank you again for being here, and the floor is yours.״
President Herzog: “It’s always great honor being here in the Oval Office and with a friend such as you, Mr. President. I will start with the sad news of the day. In the last two hours, two Israelis were were murdered by rocket attacks from Lebanon in the northern town of Nahariyah, a beautiful seashore town in the northern part of Israel.
Earlier in the day a kindergarten teacher of children with special needs rescued bravely and wisely the toddlers in the kindergarten from a drone attack. A drone exploded in the kindergarten. This is what we're going through from Lebanon, Mr. President, and you know it all too well. We are defending our people with our brave soldiers and pilots. I know you are working very hard to make sure this war ends and for first and foremost the security for the people of Israel as well as for the people of Lebanon.
And in Gaza, we have 101 hostages over 400 days. I know, Mr. President, that you're day in, day out, actively seeking their safe return home as they're going through hell in the dungeons of Gaza.
Clearly, you're thinking and working about the day after as well, which perhaps should be a trajectory of hope to the people of the region and the ability have our neighbours as well as ours security. But first we need to get our hostages back.
And it all starts in Tehran. It all starts in the empire of evil, where Tehran with its proxies, they're doing whatever they can to erase stability and security and peace, calling for the annihilation of the State of Israel and seeking nuclear weapons.
Mr. President, this has to be a major objective - all throughout your term and the next term and the next president - because we have to make sure that they cannot fulfill their evil intentions. They're also a major engine of antisemitism, Mr. President, and I know how much you put a focus on fighting and combating, antisemitism.
But most importantly, I'm here on behalf of the people of Israel, the nation of Israel, and the State of Israel to say to you, Mr. President, thank you very much. As we say in Hebrew, Toda Raba. You've been an incredible friend of Israel and the Jewish people for decades, and we will never forget, ever, in history how you stood up with us in our darkest hour, which became our finest hour, how you came to Israel a few days after the barbaric attack of October 7th, how you helped us and supported us with words and deeds. And I want to express our heartfelt thanks to you, Mr. President, which is a great legacy that you stood up with the Jewish people and the state of Israel as of you always did.
So I brought you a little gift, which is an archaeological artifact from the, foot onto the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which has the word Joseph. And as you know in the bible, it says that Joseph will strengthen Israel. And clearly, Mr. President, he's done. Thank you very much.”
Washington, D.C. - Nov. 12, 2024 - President Isaac Herzog today, Tuesday, met with US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House.
In their third meeting in the Washington as presidents, President Herzog thanked President Biden for his longstanding friendship with Israel and the Jewish people.
President Biden: “Mr. President, welcome back to the Oval Office, to the White House. You're a long time a personal friend. And, you know that my commitment to Israel is ironclad, and we share a deep friendship. I want to thank you again for being here, and the floor is yours.״
President Herzog: “It’s always great honor being here in the Oval Office and with a friend such as you, Mr. President. I will start with the sad news of the day. In the last two hours, two Israelis were were murdered by rocket attacks from Lebanon in the northern town of Nahariyah, a beautiful seashore town in the northern part of Israel.
Earlier in the day a kindergarten teacher of children with special needs rescued bravely and wisely the toddlers in the kindergarten from a drone attack. A drone exploded in the kindergarten. This is what we're going through from Lebanon, Mr. President, and you know it all too well. We are defending our people with our brave soldiers and pilots. I know you are working very hard to make sure this war ends and for first and foremost the security for the people of Israel as well as for the people of Lebanon.
And in Gaza, we have 101 hostages over 400 days. I know, Mr. President, that you're day in, day out, actively seeking their safe return home as they're going through hell in the dungeons of Gaza.
Clearly, you're thinking and working about the day after as well, which perhaps should be a trajectory of hope to the people of the region and the ability have our neighbours as well as ours security. But first we need to get our hostages back.
And it all starts in Tehran. It all starts in the empire of evil, where Tehran with its proxies, they're doing whatever they can to erase stability and security and peace, calling for the annihilation of the State of Israel and seeking nuclear weapons.
Mr. President, this has to be a major objective - all throughout your term and the next term and the next president - because we have to make sure that they cannot fulfill their evil intentions. They're also a major engine of antisemitism, Mr. President, and I know how much you put a focus on fighting and combating, antisemitism.
But most importantly, I'm here on behalf of the people of Israel, the nation of Israel, and the State of Israel to say to you, Mr. President, thank you very much. As we say in Hebrew, Toda Raba. You've been an incredible friend of Israel and the Jewish people for decades, and we will never forget, ever, in history how you stood up with us in our darkest hour, which became our finest hour, how you came to Israel a few days after the barbaric attack of October 7th, how you helped us and supported us with words and deeds. And I want to express our heartfelt thanks to you, Mr. President, which is a great legacy that you stood up with the Jewish people and the state of Israel as of you always did.
So I brought you a little gift, which is an archaeological artifact from the, foot onto the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which has the word Joseph. And as you know in the bible, it says that Joseph will strengthen Israel. And clearly, Mr. President, he's done. Thank you very much.”
