President Joe Biden and his Israeli counterpart President Isaac Herzog met on Thursday at the President's Residence, there first official meeting since the two took office in 2021.
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Biden was to receive the President's Medal, the highest civil honor the Jewish state can award during a special ceremony. Upon arriving he embraced Herzog and they talked about their Irish heritage (Herzog's father was born in Ireland and his grandfather was chief rabbi in Dublin).
Video: Facebook/President's Residence
Biden joked that he called him the "Sin Fein Rabbi," to which Herzog said, "It's a great day for the Irish."
"Thank you for all you and your family have done to deepen the ironclad bond between our two great countries," Biden wrote in the welcoming book.
Video: Facebook/President's Residence
"As long as there is a United States, you will never ever be alone," Biden said. "Our commitment remains iron clad, it's not about me or any other American president, but the affinity and deep connection, and we have to nurture that bond."
When Herzog awarded Biden with the metal he introduced the president and explained the rationale:
"The Honorable President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., in recognition of the strong support for Israel you have consistently demonstrated, and the depth of the friendship our nations share, I wish to present you with the highest honor bestowed by an Israeli President, the Presidential Medal of Honor. This tradition was instituted by the late president and your good friend, Shimon Peres. The accompanying certificate reads, and I begin with quoting the Bible: "With Him are wisdom and strength. He has counsel and understanding."
The Presidential Medal of Honor is hereby awarded to the Honorable President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. of the United States of America for his true friendship with the State of Israel, the people of Israel, and the Jewish people; his uncompromising, decades-long commitment to Israel's security; his contributions to deepening, strengthening, and enhancing the strong and unwavering alliance between Israel and the United States of America; and his struggle against anti-Israeli and antisemitic hatred around the world."
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