Biden departs Israel for Saudi Arabia

US President Joe Biden took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Yad Vashem on Wednesday afternoon.

A children's choir sang "A Walk to Caesarea" by Hannah Szenes, a Jewish resistance fighter who was killed in Hungary during World War II.

Highway 1 and Highway 6 reopened to traffic on Wednesday afternoon after US President Joe Biden's convoy arrived at Yad Vashem.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem condemned statements US President Joe Biden made upon landing in Israel, saying "Biden’s assertion that he is a Zionist at the beginning of his visit to the region exposes his full embrace of Zionist interests."

The terrorist movement added that Biden's comment "confirms the extent of the crime of some parties by coordinating with American efforts to form alliances of which the occupation is a part and reveals the extent of the illusion that the PA leadership is living in on the possibility of benefiting from American positions."

Between frustration over his politics and the logistical nightmare his visit is causing, President Joe Biden's arrival in Israel was a divisive topic in Jerusalem on Wednesday. 

The president’s trip has resulted in the closure of several main roads throughout Jerusalem as well as the deployment of 16,000 police officers to protect him. As such, commuters have been forced to take alternate routes to get around the city, adding a significant amount of traffic to their daily commute.

“What has he done for the State of Israel that he thinks he needs to come?”

Anonymous Jerusalemite

A man in his mid-fifties, who wished to remain anonymous, described Biden as a fool and said that many of the people he knows view the president the same way. “What has he done for the State of Israel that he thinks he needs to come?” he asked rhetorically. 

With respect to the road closures and massive police force deployed for the president, the man said that Biden should have “stayed in his basement,” but that the security measures in place for him would be the same for any visiting head of state and are therefore not objectionable. 

Prime Minister Yair Lapid welcomes US President Joe Biden as he lands for a three-day visit, at Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod near Tel Aviv, Israel, July 13, 2022 (credit: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA)

Biden's visit is "not worth it"

Yehiel, raised in Israel by an American mother, thought differently. “If something gets to the point where it requires 16,000 police officers, it’s not worth it,” he shared. This is especially true for Biden’s visit, according to Yehiel, because the president “is a poser at best. His visit is just for show. I don't think there's much good that he can do for Israel.”  

Rony Eichner, an oleh from Mexico, said he doesn’t really have a position on Biden but that “it’s okay for the president of the United States to come to Israel to have a diplomatic relationship” with America’s ally in the Middle East.

Eichner added that, while he does not believe the president supports Israel, it is crucial for the country to maintain its connection with the US. “It’s important to keep this connection for future problematic situations. The connection allows the two countries to talk to each other, and helps Israel negotiate with other countries.” 

“I don’t like Biden that much, I think he’s very stupid. I think it’s not fair that he’s blocking half of Jerusalem. If someone likes our country, I think it’s fair, [or] if they were coming to do good things here, but not someone who doesn’t like us.”

Jerusalemite

Nevertheless, Eichner viewed the road closures during Biden’s visit as excessive. “I don’t think it’s necessary to close all the streets for all the time they’re closing them; maybe for when the president is coming through, and that’s it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s necessary to close them for the whole day.” 

Ramit, a Jerusalem resident, said he does not believe that Biden is very good or very bad for Israel, but that former president Donald Trump received far more support from Israelis. “Trump was way more popular than Biden [in Israel], from my perspective. Trump speaks much louder about his support for Israel than Biden and takes more action for Israel, like the Abraham Accords.”

Moshe Sametz, another oleh from Mexico, said that although he does not know much about Biden in general nor about the president’s support for Israel, he is frustrated by the itinerary changes he was forced to make as a program counselor. 

“We’re in a program as madrichim (counselors) and we’ve had to change a lot of things from our program because he’s coming to Yad Vashem and other places we were supposed to go,” Sametz said.

Ramit noted that disruptions to city life in Jerusalem are quite frequent which creates issues for locals. “In Jerusalem there’s a feeling that the city closes almost on a weekly basis for some kind of reason so it’s hard for people who stay here to run their lives normally.”

“I don’t like Biden that much, I think he’s very stupid,” another young man bluntly stated. “I think it’s not fair that he’s blocking half of Jerusalem. If someone likes our country, I think it’s fair, [or] if they were coming to do good things here, but not someone who doesn’t like us.”

"You don't need to be a Jew to be a Zionist," said US President Joe Biden after landing in Israel on Wednesday afternoon, launching his first official visit to the country as president.

Biden mentioned his first visit to Israel as a senator from Delaware in 1973, shortly before the Yom Kippur War broke out, reminiscing on how he was able to spend time with then prime minister Golda Meir.

"I remember that now and I understand that I had the great honor of living part of the history of this country," said the president, adding that this is his tenth visit to Israel.

"As president, I am proud to say that our relationship with the State of Israel is deeper and stronger than ever - and in this visit, we will further strengthen our connection. We will strengthen the connection between Israel and the United States' commitment to Israel's security," added Biden.

"We will create more stability, a better connection, this is critical for all the peoples of the region and that is why we must discuss my deep and ongoing commitment to a two-state solution. This is the best way to ensure equality, freedom, prosperity and democracy for Israelis and Palestinians alike."

Among the Israeli echelon to greet US President Joe Biden at Ben-Gurion Airport upon his landing was Prime Minister Yair Lapid. 

"This is a historic visit and a deeply personal one," said Lapid. "[It] expresses unbreakable bond between our countries commitment to shared values democracy freedom right of Jewish people to a state. 

"Your relationship with Israel has always been very personal — You once defined yourself as a Zionist," Prime Minister Yair Lapid said. 

"You will see how Israel has grown and developed, see the strength and smartness of the Israeli army creativity of start-up nation diversity of Israeli society." 

Lapid added that Israel will need a "global coalition to stop the Iranian nuclear program."

Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed US President Joe Biden to Israel at Ben-Gurion Airport on Wednesday afternoon, saying that the president's trip is a "journey of peace" and "historical because it expresses the unbreakable bond" between Israel and the US.

"The people of Israel welcome you to the Holy Land with open arms and joyous hearts, as Joseph son of Jacob who sought out his brothers. Here, Mr. President, you are truly amongst family. Like the biblical Joseph, you are both a visionary and a leader, committed to advancing the United States of America, the Middle East, the world at large, and the State of Israel," said Herzog.

"This historic visit reflects the deep partnership our nations share: a partnership rooted in our shared commitment to democracy, justice, and freedom, tolerance, security, and peace," added Herzog.

"In this visit, you will discuss the security challenges emanating directly from Iran and its proxies, threatening Israel and its neighbors and endangering our region. Your first trip here in 1973, was just a few weeks before a terrible war broke out," added the Israeli president. "Today, winds of peace are blowing from North Africa across the Mediterranean to the Gulf. This trip, Mr. President, is your journey of peace from Israel to Saudi Arabia, from the Holy Land to the Hejaz."

A motorcycle police unit on its way to Ben-Gurion Airport to accompany US President Joe Biden stopped on the way after a driver requested help as he was driving with his pregnant wife who had gone into labor.

The police accompanied the woman to the Ma'ayane Yeshua Medical Center where she began giving birth in the parking lot. The officers congratulated the couple and continued on their way to the airport.

US President Joe Biden landed at Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel on Wednesday afternoon, launching his first official visit to the country as president.