Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the United States as a champion of freedom and a great ally of Israel in his address to the annual Fourth of July celebration at the U.S. ambassador's residence in Tel Aviv Thursday night.
Watch the entire event as recorded on justinTV
Watch the entire event as recorded on justinTV
Netanyahu recounted the history of the American Revolution 235 years ago, saying that many of the ideas that fueled the U.S. struggle for independence are applicable to nationalist aspirations today, particularly in the Middle East.
The prime minister lauded the United States for its unwavering commitment to freedom, saying “never in history has there ever been a nation so concerned with the freedom” of people throughout the world. He added that few nations appreciate this commitment more than Israel.
Netanyahu emphasized the importance of U.S.-Israel ties, saying that since its inception 63-years-ago, the United States has been an unrivaled ally and invaluable source of support.
“For decades, America has stood by Israel’s side,” he said, adding that Israel owes much of its success in defeating its attackers to American assistance.
Netanyahu credited the U.S. with moral, diplomatic and military support for Israel, praising the Obama administration for its insistence on the importance of reaching a negotiated settlement with Israel’s neighbors. The prime minister thanked the U.S. for providing Israel with the means to deploy the Iron Dome missile defense system in the south, which has successfully intercepted missiles launched from the Gaza Strip at civilians.
“Our struggle has succeeded thanks to the support of the United States, morally and militarily.”
Currently there is support for efforts to seek peace, which will only be achieved through direct negotiations.”Netanyahu said that Israel never had, nor would it ever have, a better partner than the U.S. “May the power of the U.S. prosper forever, and may the friendly ties between us continue to deepen,”Netanyahu said.