President Reuven Rivlin on Monday evening attended the annual US Independence Day Reception, hosted by the US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and his wife, Tammy, at their residence in Herzliya.

The President thanked the Ambassador for his hospitality and expressed his warm wishes to President Trump and all the American people. He extended the special wishes of his wife First Lady Nechama Rivlin, to First Lady Melania Trump.

President Rivlin said, “For so many of us in Israel, this day is a special day, to celebrate democracy.”

The two spoke of the strength of the relationship between Israel and the US, and of the strong cooperation in many fields, especially security.

The Ambassador told the President of his visit to the US aircraft carrier that was docked in Haifa. He noted, “Of all the relationships, I have never seen anything like the relationship between the soldiers and militaries. There is a great level of respects and mutual appreciation.”

On departing President Rivlin wished the Ambassador and his wife, “Happy July Fourth,” and added, “We look forward to working together to strengthen even further the ties between our nations.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)