Ihiasota Boniface, USA

Nearly 50 years after making his first trip to Israel as a newly elected senator, US President Joe Biden returned for the first time as president on Wednesday to open a four-day Middle East visit that will focus on slowing down Iran’s nuclear program, getting oil to American gas pumps and improving relations with Saudi Arabia.

U.S. President Joe Biden descends from Air Force One as he lands for a three day visit, at Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod near Tel Aviv, Israel.

President Biden while giving his opening remarks at the arrival ceremony expressed his thoughts on the visit and looking down memory lane, he talked about his past visits to Israel. He also commented on the past Israeli Prime Ministers he has known during the course of his ten years of visiting the State.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid welcomes U.S. President Joe Biden as he lands for a four-day visit, at Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod near Tel Aviv, Israel.

He said, “I look back on it all now, and I realize that I had the great honor of living part of the great history of this great — and I did say and I say again, you need not be a Jew to be a Zionist.

“The fact is that, since then, I’ve known every single Prime Minister and it’s been an honor, formed strong working relationships with each of them. And now, this is my 10th visit.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog looks on as Prime Minister Yair Lapid bumps fists with U.S. President Joe Biden during a welcoming ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel

Mr. President also talked about the age-long relationship between the Israeli People and the American people. This relationship, according to him is “bone deep”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid walk with U.S. President Joe Biden during an arrival ceremony at the Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel

Speaking further on the issue of relationship and security, he said, “And 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. I’ve been part of that as a Senator, as a Vice President, and, quite frankly, before that, having been raised by a righteous Christian who — we had dinner at our table every night before he went back to work, and it was a place where we had a conversation and, incidentally, ate. And I remember he taught us all about what happened in the Holocaust. “Why weren’t the tracks bombed? Why did we not — why, why, why?” And he imbued in us a sense of obligation that we all have.

U.S. President Joe Biden, Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, and Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz stand in front of Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, during a tour at Ben Gurion Airport, in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel.

“And now, as President, I’m proud to say that our relationship with the State of Israel is deeper and stronger, in my view, than it’s ever been. And with this visit, we are strengthening our connections even further. We’ve reaffirmed the unshakable commitment of the United States to Israel’s security, including partnering with Israel on the most cutting-edge defense systems in the world.”

Speaking on the issue of security and working together as a nation, President Biden expressed the American desire to support Israel and have deep connections in science and innovation, and work to address global challenges through the new Strategic High-Level Dialogue on Technology. There will also be a continued advancement of Israel’s integration into the region; expand emerging forums and engagement — like the new I2U2 Summit, which will bring Israel, the United States, the UAE together, and India as well — to deepen economic cooperation between the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. This, therefore, will facilitate “Greater peace. Greater stability. Greater connection.”

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and U.S. President Joe Biden attend a briefing on Israel’s Iron Dome and Iron Beam Air Defense Systems at the Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel

After the arrival ceremony, Mr. President visited the hallowed ground of Yad Sh-Vashem to honor the 6 million Jewish that lost their lives in the genocide. This according to him must be done every day to “continue to bear witness, to keep alive the truth and horror of the Holocaust — horror of the Holocaust, honor those we lost so that we never, ever forget that lesson, you know, and to continue our shared, unending work to fight the poison of anti-Semitism wherever it raises its ugly head. Wherever we find it in the world, we make real on the promise of “never again” by taking it on.”

U.S. President Joe Biden reacts next to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as Israel’s President Isaac Herzog speaks with Holocaust survivor Rena Quint, at the Hall of Remembrance of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem

Reiterating the duration of his visit to Israel and the United States’ intention to foster a healthy relationship with Israel, “for the benefit of the entire world”, he said, ” We have a full agenda over the next two days because the relationship between Israel and the United States covers every issue that matters to our mutual futures.

Israeli and American flags stand during the final rehearsal for the ceremony to welcome U.S. President Joe Biden ahead of his visit to Israel, at Ben Gurion International airport, in Lod near Tel Aviv, Israel.

“We’re united in our shared values and are our shared vision. I’m looking forward to our time together over the next few days. May Israel and the United States continue to grow and prosper together for the benefit of the entire world. And I mean that: for the benefit of the entire world.”