Obama lands in Israel, praises ‘unbreakable’ U.S.-Israel bond
Calls America “strongest ally and greatest friend”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greeting President Obama at a welcome ceremony for the president at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, March 20, 2013. (Miriam Alster / Flash90)
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March 20, 2013
TEL AVIV -- President Obama began his first presidential visit to Israel with an airport speech calling the United States the “strongest ally and greatest friend” of Israel.
“Why does the U.S. stand with Israel?” Obama asked the crowd at the welcoming ceremony Wednesday afternoon at Ben-Gurion Airport. “We stand together because we share a common story. We stand together because we’re democracies. We stand together because together we’re more prosperous. We share a commitment to helping our fellow human beings around the world.”
Obama said an alliance with Israel is in the “fundamental national security interest” of the United States.
Among fluttering Israeli and American flags, the U.S. leader was escorted to the tarmac by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres. An honor guard and military band greeted the trio as they shook hands with Israeli religious, political and cultural dignitaries.
“Thank you for standing by Israel in this time of historic change for the Middle East,” Netanyahu said in his welcome to Obama. “Thank you for strengthening the alliance between our two countries.”
Neither Obama nor Netanyahu, nor Peres, who also spoke, mentioned the Iranian nuclear program, an issue of grave concern for the U.S. and Israel. Reportedly it is one of the primary topics that Netanyahu and Obama will discuss when they meet.
In what may indicate another purpose of the visit, though, all three leaders spoke about peace with the Palestinians. Netanyahu said that Israelis “seek peace with our Palestinian neighbors." Obama declared that “peace must come to the Holy Land.”
Obama added that one of his goals is to speak directly with the Israeli people, and at the beginning of his speech he tried out some Hebrew, saying, “Shalom, it’s good to be in Israel again.” He has been to the country three times, the last in 2008 when he was a U.S. senator and presidential candidate.
Obama viewed an Iron Dome anti-missile battery brought to the airport for his inspection.
During his three-day visit to the region he will meet with Peres and Netanyahu, visit Israeli cultural and historical landmarks, and address an Israeli audience. He also will visit the West Bank, where he will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
"This is my third visit to Israel so let me just say 'tov lihiyot shuv ba'aretz.'"
Below are remarks by President Barak Obama, upon his arrival at Ben-Gurion Airport on March 20:
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Shalom. (Applause.) President Peres, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and most of all, to the people of Israel, thank you for this incredibly warm welcome. This is my third visit to Israel so let me just say tov lihiyot shuv ba'aretz. (Applause.)
I’m so honored to be here as you prepare to celebrate the 65th anniversary of a free and independent State of Israel. Yet I know that in stepping foot on this land, I walk with you on the historic homeland of the Jewish people.
More than 3,000 years ago, the Jewish people lived here, tended the land here, prayed to God here. And after centuries of exile and persecution, unparalleled in the history of man, the founding of the Jewish State of Israel was a rebirth, a redemption unlike any in history.
Today, the sons of Abraham and the daughters of Sarah are fulfilling the dream of the ages -- to be “masters of their own fate” in “their own sovereign state.” And just as we have for these past 65 years, the United States is proud to stand with you as your strongest ally and your greatest friend.
As I begin my second term as President, Israel is the first stop on my first foreign trip. This is no accident. Across this region the winds of change bring both promise and peril. So I see this visit as an opportunity to reaffirm the unbreakable bonds between our nations, to restate America’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security, and to speak directly to the people of Israel and to your neighbors.
I want to begin right now, by answering a question that is sometimes asked about our relationship -- why? Why does the United States stand so strongly, so firmly with the State of Israel? And the answer is simple. We stand together because we share a common story -- patriots determined “to be a free people in our land,” pioneers who forged a nation, heroes who sacrificed to preserve our freedom, and immigrants from every corner of the world who renew constantly our diverse societies.
We stand together because we are democracies. For as noisy and messy as it may be, we know that democracy is the greatest form of government ever devised by man.
We stand together because it makes us more prosperous. Our trade and investment create jobs for both our peoples. Our partnerships in science and medicine and health bring us closer to new cures, harness new energy and have helped transform us into high-tech hubs of our global economy.
We stand together because we share a commitment to helping our fellow human beings around the world. When the earth shakes and the floods come, our doctors and rescuers reach out to help. When people are suffering, from Africa to Asia, we partner to fight disease and overcome hunger.
And we stand together because peace must come to the Holy Land. For even as we are clear-eyed about the difficulty, we will never lose sight of the vision of an Israel at peace with its neighbors.
So as I begin this visit, let me say as clearly as I can --the United States of America stands with the State of Israel because it is in our fundamental national security interest to stand with Israel. It makes us both stronger. It makes us both more prosperous. And it makes the world a better place. (Applause.)
That’s why the United States was the very first nation to recognize the State of Israel 65 years ago. That’s why the Star of David and the Stars and Stripes fly together today. And that is why I’m confident in declaring that our alliance is eternal, it is forever – lanetzach.
Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Source: THE WHITE HOUSE/Office of the Press Secretary
Comments
Obaid Karki
March 20, 2013
The Real torture is watching Israeli children jumping like crackpots and singing Shirley Bassey’s old songs for Obama as if he’s a pedophile. Israelis lost their mind. Jerusalem artichokes and red mullet tossed with green soybeans prepared by Chef Shalom Kadosh. Are you trying to kill him or nuke Iran or both or what? Obama is Chicagoan Hikikomori, his main Diet French Fries & Burger. I don’t need to wait for Bibi/Obama meeting outcome. Obama snubbed Bibi as Netanyahu delivered his carping dull speech. Obama loathed every moment of it. His body language obviously ain’t friendly. Bibi’s cover-up narrative about Middle East Prosperity was foolish because Obama knows very well that Bibi would love to nuke the entire Middle East if he’s allowed to. Bibi is finished. Idiots never learn. In order Not to offend Arabspringers, Obama skipped Kotel Mugshot Rituals that Israelis crave unless he tours Israel’s Nightmare; Dome of the Rock as well. He’s visiting a church instead. He will have no Mugshot inspecting Hamas Rocket Stockpile that Israel uses to milk US Sympathy and fools Petty. Obama doing what he’s doing, going where he’s going, and avoiding what he’s avoiding. Though Abbas is powerless to peace with Israel Obama will visit Ramallah to mark his mating ground. Now I feel better. Obama hugged Peres as friend and jabbed Bibi as another Nut-Job with a lot of ego trying survive.