Biden at the White House Jewish Hanukkah celebration ceremony: I am a Zionist

The US President Joe Biden said during the “candle lighting” ceremony at the White House, which was held as part of the eight-day Jewish religious Hanukkah celebrations, “The strong ties with the Jewish community form for me a warm and constant experience that doesn’t fade”.

“I would like to emphasize my understanding of the issues that mean so much to Jews”.

He added, in front of the audience of 800 people, “I ran into problems and criticism when I said a few years ago that you don’t have to be Jewish to be a Zionist, and I am a Zionist”.

“We’ll continue to support Israel in the face of Hamas’s challenges, but we must remain vigilant… International public opinion may change, and we are committed to the safety of the Jewish people and the security of Israel as an independent state, and this cannot be tolerated,” Biden said.