US President Joe Biden In His First Trip To Israel Says You Need Not Be A Jew To Be A Zionist

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US President Joe Biden arrived in Israel on Wednesday on the first leg of his West Asia visit. Biden landed at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport. Here he said that “you don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist.”

Biden, who arrived on his first official visit to Israel as President of the United States (POTUS), said, “You don’t have to be Jewish to be a Zionist (pro-Jewish). Standing up with friends and the independent Jewish state of Israel It is an honor for me to visit.”

Upon his arrival in Israel, Biden was received by other senior officials including President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Yair Lapid and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

As The Jewish Chronicle reports, Biden briefly reminisced about past visits and ties with former leaders and emphasized the deep ties between the Americans and Israel. “The relationship between the people of Israel and the American people is very deep,” he said, discussing the continued development of bilateral relations between generations.

Biden promised to fight against anti-Semitism. The US President also stressed on the continued cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of security. He said he would explore state-of-the-art Israeli defense systems, the Iron Dome and a brand new laser-powered “iron beam”.

Biden also emphasized his support for a solution to Israel and Palestine. He said that the resolution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine is essential for the region, even though it is not happening now but is possible in the near future. “We will continue to advance the integration of Israel in the region… Greater peace and greater stability are important for all people in the region,” he said.

Biden visits Israel’s Holocaust memorial

Biden visited Israel’s National Holocaust Memorial to pay respect to the six million Jews killed by Nazi Germany and the Allies during World War II. Biden laid a wreath at the memorial during his stop in “Yad Vashem” and met the two survivors, 86-year-old Rena Quint and Jsel Psychowicz (95). During this, Biden was accompanied by Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

During his visit, Biden will also meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem on Friday to resume talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Doha News reports.