President Biden Aims to Warm Saudi-Israeli Relations

Israel National News and CNN

US President Joe Biden landed in Israel for his first official visit to the Jewish State as President and his tenth visit overall.

While much of his foreign travel in his first 18 months in office has focused on reversing the foreign policy of former President Donald Trump and shoring up battered alliances, Biden on his first trip to the Middle East will embrace the Trump-era Abraham Accords that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab countries and pursue an expansion of growing Arab-Israeli security and economic ties.

Biden landed in Tel Aviv just after 8 a.m. ET Wednesday and delivered remarks on further strengthening the relationship between the US and Israel.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid welcomed President Biden in a state ceremony at Ben-Gurion International Airport in the presence of President Isaac Herzog, Alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Ministers, and additional dignitaries.

“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.”

“We’re going to deepen our connections in science and innovation and work to address global challenges through the new strategic high-level dialogue on technology. We’ll continue to advance Israel’s integration into the region, expand emerging forums and engagement,” Biden said.

The President added, “Greater peace, greater stability, greater connection. It’s critical. It’s critical, if I might add, for all the people of the region.”

Biden is expected to receive a briefing on the Iron Dome defense system and the next-generation, laser-enabled Iron Beam system on Wednesday. Later in the day, he will head to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem.