The President of the State, Isaac Herzog, who is on a diplomatic visit to the United States, met today (Tuesday) with the President of the United States, Joe Biden, at the White House.
Biden welcomed the president and said, "Mr. President, welcome back to the familiar walls of the White House. You are a dear personal friend. And you know that my commitment to Israel is steadfast, and we share a deep friendship. I want to thank you again for coming here."
President Herzog replied: "It is always a great honor to be here in the Oval Office and with a friend like you, Mr. President. I'll start with today's sad news. In the past two hours, two Israelis were killed in a rocket attack from Lebanon in the city of Nahariya in northern Israel, a beautiful coastal town in northern Israel."
"Earlier today," Herzog continued, "a kindergarten teacher at a special needs preschool courageously and wisely rescued the toddlers in the kindergarten from a drone attack. A drone exploded in the kindergarten. This is what we are going through from Lebanon, Mr. President, and you know it very well."
"We protect our people with our soldiers and pilots. I know you are working very hard to end this war and, first and foremost, ensuring the security of the people of Israel and also the Lebanese people. Meanwhile, in Gaza, we have 101 hostages who have been held for 400 days."
Herzog addressed Biden: "I know, Mr. President, that you work day after day and actively seek the solution for their safe return home while they are going through hell in the tunnels of Gaza. Of course, you are thinking and working on the day after as well, which perhaps should be a path of hope for the residents of the area and the ability to accept our neighbour's and also our security. But first of all, we need to bring back our captives."
"Everything starts in Tehran. It all begins with the empire of evil, where Tehran and its affiliates do everything in their power to erase stability, security, and peace, and call for the destruction of the State of Israel and the acquisition of nuclear weapons."
"Mr. President, this must be a central goal throughout your term, the next term, and the next president, because we must ensure that they cannot fulfil their malicious intentions. They are also a central engine of anti-Semitism, Mr. President, and I know how much you emphasize fighting anti-Semitism."
"But most importantly, I am here on behalf of the people of Israel, the citizens of Israel, and the State of Israel to say to you, Mr. President, thank you very much. You have been an amazing friend of Israel and the Jewish people for decades, and we will never forget historically how you stood with us in our darkest hour, which became our finest hour, how you came to Israel a few days after the barbaric attack on October 7th, how you helped us and supported us with words and deeds. And I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to you, Mr. President, this is a great legacy that will be remembered, how you stood by the Jewish people and the State of Israel as you always have."
Herzog concluded his remarks and presented President Biden with a gift: "So I brought you a present, an archaeological artifact from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, inscribed with the word 'Joseph.' And as you know from the Bible, it is written that Joseph will strengthen Israel. And of course, Mr. President, he strengthened. Thank you very much."
