Israeli President Isaac Herzog hosted U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at the president’s residence in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
Herzog was joined by his wife, Michal Herzog, and his brother, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog.
They welcomed Pelosi and her delegation, including Reps. (D-Calif.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Bill Keating (D-Mass.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), as well as U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides.
“We are really overjoyed that you are here in Israel, and we are grateful to you for your friendship, which represents so much in the unique relationship between Israel and the United States—an unbreakable bond—and we are very glad that you are here with your husband in Israel, in Jerusalem, in the Holy Land,” said Herzog.
Pelosi thanked him, saying it was an honor to be invited.
Joining the two leaders for the lunch was Ofra Fuchs, widow of the late Israeli poet Ehud Manor, whose words Pelosi quoted in her speech on the floor of Congress after the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.
“Thank you so much for honoring us with your presence,” said Pelosi. “It really is true, and we’ve discussed this, that the arts bring us together. Somehow there is a way where the inspiration and shared values enable us to forget some of our differences. To the beautiful friendship between our countries.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Pelosi visited the Knesset, where she discussed the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship and the Iranian threat.
