Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter hosted a series of events marking Israel's 77th Independence Day on Monday. The main speakers at the event were Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.
The main reception was held Monday at the ambassador's residence, attracting a high-profile gathering of senior US government officials, members of Congress and the Senate, foreign ambassadors, Jewish community leaders, media representatives, heads of leading organizations, and senior figures from civilian, security, and academic sectors.
During the evening, wounded soldier Ari Spitz participated in the event. Spitz, who lost both his legs and his hand during combat operations in Gaza and spent approximately six weeks hospitalized, moved the audience when he shared his injury story. His account particularly affected Special Envoy Witkoff, who embraced him warmly for an extended moment.
Witkoff began his remarks by sharing his powerful encounter with Spitz. "I just met a young man here, his name is Ari Spitz. He gave to the country of Israel both of his legs, his right arm, his thumb, and I just say I wish you blessings. He's not a victim. It was really my great honor to meet you tonight," Witkoff said.
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In his formal address, Witkoff expressed warm sentiments, saying, "Ambassador Leiter, my dear friend, distinguished guests, and friends of Israel, of course Independence Day is a time to pause, reflect on the past year, and envision the future. On behalf of my dear friend President Donald J. Trump, a great friend of Israel, and the American people, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the state of Israel on this special day. Israel has been and always will be the cherished friend of the United States of America."
🚨 WATCH: US envoy Steve Witkoff offers a moving greeting to heroic IDF soldier Ari Spitz and promises a significant expansion of the Abraham Accords "very soon." Witkoff spoke tonight at the Israeli Embassy in Washington's Independence Day party. https://t.co/n6JobReSn2 pic.twitter.com/OadJHgT3fF
— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) May 6, 2025
Adopting a more somber tone, Witkoff acknowledged the current reality facing Israel. "This year has been challenging, and our celebration is bittersweet. While 59 hostages remain cruelly held by Hamas, I remember being in the hospital in Israel when we got the female IDF soldiers out, and I sang the song 'Am Israel Chai' with them and their families. And I thought to myself, this could be the most joyous moment in my life."
Making a firm commitment on behalf of the administration, Witkoff pledged, "On behalf of President Trump, I pledge that we will work tirelessly this year so that next year's Independence Day is not just a wish for happiness but a reality of peace, prosperity, and for Israel, unity."
The envoy outlined several diplomatic initiatives currently in progress, including on expanding the normalization agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbors from Trump's first term, known as the Abraham Accords. "There are many efforts underway – humanitarian aid initiatives for Gaza, which we applaud, the expansion of the Abraham Peace Accords, which we think will have some or a lot of announcements very, very shortly, which we hope will yield great progress by next year, and discussions on regional challenges in the Middle East like Syria, Lebanon, and of course Iran, and we agree that they shall never get a nuclear weapon." The Abraham Accords currently include Sudan, the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, all of which agreed to normalize relations with Israel following Trump's mediation in 2020, resulting in new ties between Israel and those countries, including tourism and trade.
In his concluding remarks, Witkoff delivered a passionate message about Israel's resilience and the importance of national unity. "Israel is an extraordinary nation. From its founding, it has faced external threats with creativity, resilience, and triumph, and we will always be their strongest ally. Yet Israel's strength lies in its unity. Over the past 20 months, countless Israelis have sacrificed so much, like Ari Spitz right here. In their honor, I urge the Israeli people to choose unity over division, vision over disagreement, and hope over despair. When you do, Israel's future will shine brighter than ever."
The evening concluded with a moving rendition of the national anthems of Israel and the United States performed by the winner of the 17th season of American Idol, and Israeli singer and reserve soldier Noam Buskila.
