Obama in Hebrew: It’s good to be in the land again

Obama begins by noting this is his third visit to Israel, and so, he says in Hebrew, “Tov lihyot shuv ba’aretz” — it’s good to be in Israel again.

It’s no coincidence that he’s chosen to make Israel the first foreign destination in his second presidency, he says.

He immediately stresses the “rebirth” of Israel as the historic Jewish homeland. “The United States is proud to stand with you,” he says.

He speaks of “the winds of change” in the region, which “bring both promise and peril.” He says he sees opportunities on the visit, and highlights that the US and Israel “stand together because we share a common story” — share the goals of freedom, the tradition of bringing in immigrants from every corner of the world. “We stand together because we are democracies… the greatest form of government ever devised by man. Also “We stand together… because it makes us more prosperous… We share a commitment to helping human beings” around the world.

“We stand together because peace must come to the holy land,” he adds. “For even as we are clear-eyed about the difficulties, we will never lose sight of the vision of Israel at peace with its neighbors.”

The US “stands with Israel because it is in our fundamental security interest… It makes us both stronger… and it makes the world a better place… That’s why the United States was the very first nation” to recognize Israel 65 years ago.

The partnership between the two countries is eternal, Obama concludes.