US president lands in Israel for first stop of Middle East tour

Jerusalem, Jul 13 (EFE).- United States president Joe Biden arrived Wednesday in Israel on his first official visit to the Middle East since taking office.

Biden landed at the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv where he was greeted by Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid, president Isaac Herzog and former prime minister Naftali Benet.

“The connection between Israeli people and American people is bone deep, generation after generation that connection grows, we invest in each other, we dream together,” Biden said.

“I am proud to say that our relationship with the state of Israel is deeper and stronger in my view than it has ever been,” he added.

Biden will hold a meeting with Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz in which the leaders will discuss security cooperation. He will then visit the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem.

Israel is the first stop of a Middle East tour in which the US president will visit the West Bank and Saudi Arabia, where he is set to meet with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and king Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The US president will be accompanied by his delegation, formed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and his Middle East advisor Brett McGurk. EFE

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