Diplomacy

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Netanyahu Welcomes U.S. Ambassador Friedman to Jerusalem, “Our Eternal Capital”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday welcomed Washington’s new ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, to “our eternal capital” Jerusalem.

“Welcome. It’s a pleasure to see you and to welcome you to Jerusalem, our eternal capital. I know you went to the Kotel [Western Wall]. It’s deeply appreciated by all our people,” Netanyahu told Friedman.

The new ambassador responded, “There was no other place to go.”

Netanyahu continued, “It was a strong gesture of solidarity. We look forward to receiving President Trump and we want to work with you and with the President these coming years to strengthen our great alliance.”

“We will,” Friedman assured the prime minister.

Prior to meeting Netanyahu, Friedman presented his credentials to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.

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“I am happy to welcome you and your dear wife to Israel, to Jerusalem. I know you have been here many times before, but this time you are an ambassador representing the USA, Israel’s greatest, and most important ally,” Rivlin greeted Friedman.

Rivlin also mentioned that Israel was looking forward to hosting President Donald Trump next week as “a sign of the unbreakable bond between Israel and the USA.”

“As a seventh generation Jerusalemite, you continue the connection to Jerusalem that began with King David some 3000 years ago,” Friedman responded to Rivlin.

He continued, “Serving the U.S. as its ambassador to the state of Israel, is the greatest honor of my life, and I pledge to you to do all that I can to strengthen and enhance the relations between our two great nations – that you accurately described as unbreakable and, I would add, without limits.”

Friedman also mentioned Trump’s upcoming visit to Israel, observing that the president had chosen Israel one of the stops on his first international trip as a demonstration that “his love for and commitment to the State of Israel is rock-solid and enjoys his highest priority.”

Friedman concluded by saying that in his capacity of ambassador, he would seek to “bring together the United States and Israel — in every field, from culture to education, life sciences, high technology, commerce, trade, and, of course, military and strategic cooperation and so many other things.”

[Photo: Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs ]