President Reuven Rivlin on Monday evening 6 Cheshvan addressed the annual event held by the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce, attended by US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, and many leading figures in the business community. Also addressing the event was Ambassador Shapiro and the Chamber’s chairperson Ofra Strauss.

“This evening is not just a chance to celebrate the cooperation, friendship, and the bond between Israel and our greatest most important ally”. The President said, “Tonight is a chance to congratulate all the citizens of the United States, on the occasion of the election.” He stressed, “However harsh the arguments, however severe the disagreements, America is the world’s greatest democracy, and whoever wins the election, the real winner is the people, whose voice is heard, and who play a part in shaping their futures.”

The President noted that in Israel, Election Day was a public holiday, and said that while it was not in the US, “It is a day to celebrate democracy, and a day to remember that whichever side of the aisle you stand, we will stand together side by side as friends, with shared values and shared interests that go deeper than any party divide. Values of democracy, of liberty, and of equality.”

The President concluded by thanking the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce, and Ambassador Shapiro, for their work to help strengthen the ties between Israel and the US.

US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro thanked the members of the chamber and said, “Since the signing of the US Israel free trade agreement our economic linkages have evolved growing fivefold in the last 31 years to reach $49 billion a year in trade with shared economic benefits for both countries.” He added, “Israel and the United States have reached these new heights together and we are committed to ensuring that both our economies continue to soar even higher into the future. We faced shared challenges and these shared challenges, I believe, also represent shared opportunities. Working together, Israel and the United States can change the future for the better.”

Chair of the Chamber of Commerce Mrs. Ofra Strauss addressed the event and said, “The economic relations between Israel and the USA are the basis for the whole strategic alliance. Israeli companies are improving the lives of Americans each day and Israel from the point of the American market, Israel is disproportionately great and important for its physical size. We do not only share common values, together we are truly changing the world.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)