‫משרד ראש הממשלה‬
THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
‫مکتب رئيس ال ُحكومة‬
‫ראש מטה ההסברה‬
‫ויועץ ראש הממשלה לתקשורת‬
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
AND MEDIA ADVISER TO THE PRIME MINISTER
July 4, 2013
[Transcription]
PM Netanyahu’s Remarks at the Fourth of July Reception
Chag Sameach
Happy Fourth of July.
[Translated from Hebrew:
Mr. President, Shimon Peres,
Ambassador Shapiro, your Hebrew is fantastic, simply great.]
And your understanding of Israel matches your understanding of Hebrew.
So Dan and Julie,
[Translated from Hebrew:
Continue with your excellent work, with your sweet children, and the bond you are
cultivating in our country.]
Dan, you have been an excellent Ambassador. I can say that from personal
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3 Kaplan St. Jerusalem 91919, Tel: +972 (2) 6705465/7, Fax: +972 (2) 5669245
E-MAIL: MEDIA@IT.PMO.GOV.IL
‫משרד ראש הממשלה‬
THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
‫مکتب رئيس ال ُحكومة‬
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
AND MEDIA ADVISER TO THE PRIME MINISTER
‫ראש מטה ההסברה‬
‫ויועץ ראש הממשלה לתקשורת‬
experience. And you’ve served as a bridge – a bridge between our two countries, and
this was brilliantly demonstrated during President Obama's historic visit to Israel.
I want to add a request. Sara and I would like to send not only warm greetings to the
President and First Lady Michelle Obama. We’d like to see Michelle in Israel as well.
There are ministers here and Knesset members and mayors and diplomats and
representatives of, as the President said, of all of Israel. Well, all friends – Americans
and Israelis alike.
It's always a pleasure, and a deeply meaningful pleasure, to celebrate America's
Independence Day.
It’s true, July 4th is first and foremost an American holiday.
It’s a time when Americans celebrate their freedom; it’s a time when they celebrate
the cherished principles of American democracy.
These are values we deeply share here in Israel.
In the Middle East, Israel has always been an island of stability and democracy in a
sea of instability and despotism.
This has always been true, but today, this is clearer than ever before.
Israel will always remain America's steadfast and unwavering ally.
We are allies, there’s a powerful bond between us.
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E-MAIL: MEDIA@IT.PMO.GOV.IL
‫משרד ראש הממשלה‬
THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
‫مکتب رئيس ال ُحكومة‬
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
AND MEDIA ADVISER TO THE PRIME MINISTER
‫ראש מטה ההסברה‬
‫ויועץ ראש הממשלה לתקשורת‬
And the bond comes because of what has been said here tonight – because our
deepest values are identical to those of the United States.
We too believe that a government, as President Lincoln said, is of the people, by the
people and for the people; a government, as Jefferson insisted, where the majority
rules, but where the rights of the minority, all minorities, are vigorously protected; a
government, as the American founding fathers so wisely conceived, where checks
and balances help prevent the abuse of power and ensure that no one is above the law.
That’s why the Fourth of July is more than an American holiday.
It is a day that is celebrated by all those who cherish freedom around the world.
It’s a day that we honor the nation that has held the torch of liberty for 237 years.
That Statue of Liberty shines not only in New York Harbor, not only in the United
States of America, it shines around the world. Everybody sees America’s gift of
freedom.
This is the day we also salute the courage of America's soldiers, who for nearly a
century have answered the call of freedom and have defended freedom across the
globe.
It is a day when those who live in tyranny can dream of a future of liberty for their
families and for their countries.
In the Middle East today, there are many people who seek such a future.
Those who seek liberty are our natural peace partners.
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E-MAIL: MEDIA@IT.PMO.GOV.IL
‫משרד ראש הממשלה‬
THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
‫مکتب رئيس ال ُحكومة‬
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
AND MEDIA ADVISER TO THE PRIME MINISTER
‫ראש מטה ההסברה‬
‫ויועץ ראש הממשלה לתקשורת‬
They also provide hope that the great turbulence that is rocking the Middle East today
will ultimately result in a brighter future for all the peoples in our region.
This will not happen overnight. But if real freedom ultimately takes root throughout
the Middle East, a future of prosperity and peace will finally be realized for all.
Until that day comes, America knows that in the Middle East there is one genuine
democracy, one country that it can always count on, and that country is Israel.
Our two societies are so much alike, there is so much diversity, there is pluralism,
there is creativity - fountains of it, endless bursts of creativity in every field: scientist,
technologist, entrepreneurs, businessmen, business women, musicians, artists,
writers. In every field of human endeavor, Israel and the United States are explosive
fountains of human ingenuity and creativity.
And I know that because when I look around the world and I see the world looking at
us, they say there are only two places that have such a compilation of genius across
the board. They say the United States of America and the State of Israel.
We in Israel are proud of our vibrant democracy and our strong democratic
institutions.
We are proud of our rambunctious parliament where no punches are pulled. How do
you translate rambunctious? Dan?
We are proud of our independent courts that protect the rule of law. We are proud of
our free press that holds all to account.
And Israelis know, we know, that it has been the great fortune of our own democracy
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3 Kaplan St. Jerusalem 91919, Tel: +972 (2) 6705465/7, Fax: +972 (2) 5669245
E-MAIL: MEDIA@IT.PMO.GOV.IL
‫משרד ראש הממשלה‬
THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
‫مکتب رئيس ال ُحكومة‬
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
AND MEDIA ADVISER TO THE PRIME MINISTER
‫ראש מטה ההסברה‬
‫ויועץ ראש הממשלה לתקשורת‬
that in the past seven decades the preeminent power in the world has been the United
States of America.
That is why when the United States, the greatest democracy in the world, celebrates
its independence, Israel celebrates with you.
President Obama put it best when he said on his visit to Israel this year, he said: "The
Star of David and the Stars and Stripes fly together."
Exactly. “Our alliance,” President Obama said, “is eternal. La'netzach.”
Dan, I know you worked hard on the pronunciation. It’s the sentiment that counts. It’s
a real sentiment of friendship.
Our countries are true friends; we are true partners; we are true allies.
And to address the great challenges that we both face today, our alliance is needed
more than ever.
We must work together to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability.
President Obama said on his visit, as he did before. He said: “This is a common goal,
but always remember that Israel must be able to defend itself by itself against any
threat.”
We adhere to those principles.
We must work to address the threats posed by the situation in Syria and by the
unraveling instability throughout the region.
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E-MAIL: MEDIA@IT.PMO.GOV.IL
‫משרד ראש הממשלה‬
THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
‫مکتب رئيس ال ُحكومة‬
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
AND MEDIA ADVISER TO THE PRIME MINISTER
‫ראש מטה ההסברה‬
‫ויועץ ראש הממשלה לתקשורת‬
And, our friends, we must work together to advance peace with the Palestinians.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Secretary of State John Kerry for his
tireless efforts to advance peace. When I say tireless, I mean just that. That man
works until three o’clock in the morning. We all do. But then he goes on to a 45
minute stroll in Jerusalem. I think I’ll join him next time.
Israel hopes those efforts will succeed.
We place no obstacles whatsoever to resume direct negotiations.
We are ready for those talks to begin immediately. And we hope the Palestinians will
join us in trying to secure a lasting peace between us.
On behalf of the Israeli people, I thank President Obama and the American people for
their unwavering support for the State of Israel.
May your great nation continue to hold freedom's torch high, and may democracies
everywhere continue to be blessed by American leadership for generations to come.
God bless America.
Chag Sameach.
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E-MAIL: MEDIA@IT.PMO.GOV.IL