‘Long and Warm Relationship’: Israel’s leadership congratulates Biden, thanks Trump
Israel’s leadership congratulated President-elect Joe Biden and thanked President Donald Trump for his historic contribution to the Jewish state after Biden declared his victory on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with the United States Vice President Joe Biden at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, on March 9, 2016, during Biden’s official visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Photo by Amos Ben Gershom/GPO.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Biden and Vice-President-Elect Kamala Harris on their victory in the 2020 US elections.
“Joe, we’ve had a long and warm personal relationship for nearly 40 years, and I know you as a great friend of Israel. I look forward to working with both of you to further strengthen the special alliance between the US and Israel,” Netanyahu wrote on Twitter.
He also thanked President Donald Trump “for the friendship you have shown the state of Israel and me personally, for recognizing Jerusalem and the Golan, for standing up to Iran, for the historic peace accords and for bringing the American-Israeli alliance to unprecedented heights.”
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin conveyed the “blessings of the Israeli people and of the State of Israel, to our friend Joe Biden” on his election as the 46th President and sent “congratulations and best wishes for your success” to Harris.
To Biden, he wrote on Twitter, that “as a long-standing friend of Israel, you are now the leader of the free world and of the State of Israel’s closest and most important ally.”
“The strategic alliance between our two countries and peoples is stronger than any political leadership, and is not based solely on friendship. It is rooted deeply in our shared values and in our long-standing commitment to freedom and democracy as the foundations of our societies,” he wrote.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz extended his “heartfelt congratulations to Biden, a long-time supporter and friend of Israel,” and to Harris, “who has made history as the first woman elected VP.”
He looks forward to “continuing to deepen the steadfast bond and strong defense ties between our peoples, as allies in the effort to strengthen democracy, stability, and peace worldwide.”
He also thanked Trump, “a valuable partner of the State of Israel, committed to its security and invested in its future.”
“The Middle East has taken major steps forward thanks to the president’s bold leadership over these four years, and for that we are immensely grateful,” he added.
Member of Knesset Naftali Bennett thanked Trump “on behalf of the people of Israel.”
“You will be remembered forever as a true member of the State of Israel. Leading revolutionary and courageous moves to fortify the existence of Israel. You broke outdated perceptions. You moved the US embassy to Jerusalem without fear. Recognized the Golan Heights as part of the State of Israel,” he wrote.
“You have brought us historic peace with the United Arab Emirates without relinquishing territory. Clarified that the focus of the conflict is not the Palestinians. Applied unprecedented pressure on the Iranian assassination regime,” he added.
“A fundamental feature of Judaism is gratitude, and we are grateful, and we will never forget it,” he concluded.
MK Nir Barkat congratulated Biden and stated his belief that “under his leadership, the courageous and positive relationship between the two countries will continue.”
He also “sincerely” thanked Trump for “his tremendous contribution to the State of Israel over the past four years. You will forever be engraved in the history of the people of Israel as our true friend.”
TPS
