The President: Thank you, and Shalom, it is
wonderful to be here in Israel.
President Rivlin, Mrs. Rivlin, Prime
Minister Netanyahu, Mrs. Netanyahu, thank you
very much.
I am deeply grateful for your invitation and very
very honored to be with you.
On my first trip overseas as President I have come to
this sacred and ancient land to reaffirm the
unbreakable bond between the United States and the
state of Israel.
(applause)
In this land so rich in history, Israel
has built one of the worlds great
civilizations, a strong resilient, determined and
prosperous nation, it is also a nation forged in
the commitment that we will never allow the
horrors and atrocities of the last century to be repeated.
Now we must worked together to build a future
where the nations of the region are at peace and
all of our children can grow and grow up strong
and grow up free from terrorism and violence.
During my travels in recent days I have found
new reasons for hope.
I have just concluded a visit to Saudi Arabia
where yesterday I met with King Solomon and with the
leaders from the Muslim and Arab world.
That visit we reached historic agreements to
pursue greater and greater cooperation in the fight
against terrorism and its evil ideology.
My future travels will take me to visit Pope
Francis at the Vatican and then our NATO and
European allies.
We have before us a rare opportunity to bring
security and stability and peace to this region and
to its people, defeating terrorism and creating a
future of harmony and prosperity and peace.
But we can only get there working together, there is
no other way.
Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, I look forward
to working closely with both of you during my stay.
We love Israel.
We respect Israel.
And I send your people the warmest greetings from
your friend and ally, of the people in The United
States of America.
We are with you.
Thank you and God bless you, thank you.