Following the conclusion of President Biden’s first presidential visit to Israel, Democratic Majority for Israel President & CEO Mark Mellman released the following statement:

“From the moment President Biden landed at Ben Gurion airport for the 10th time on Wednesday and declared, ‘You need not be a Jew to be a Zionist,’ we were reminded that his affection for the Jewish state runs, as he likes to say, ‘bone deep.’

“Over the three-day visit, the President reaffirmed his administration’s enduring commitment to the U.S.-Israel relationship through new security and technology partnerships, vowed to prevent a nuclear armed Iran, and delivered tangible steps towards advancing peace between Israel and Arab states. His emotional visit to the hallowed ground of Yad Vashem and meeting with survivors of the Holocaust underscored his promise to stand against anti-Israel and antisemitic hatred around the world.

“We applaud the administration’s leadership and steady diplomacy in brokering an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel with the announcement that Saudi Arabia will open its airspace to planes flying to and from Israel. Now, Israel’s nearly two-million Muslim citizens will be able to take charter flights directly to Saudi Arabia to participate in the Hajj. This is an important step towards building a more peaceful and integrated Middle East. We urge the administration to keep up the momentum and continue this vital work.”

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