Joe Biden praised his Irish roots during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog whose father was born in Belfast.
The US president is in the Middle East for the first time since taking office in early 2021, arriving in Israel on Wednesday to hold talks with Israeli leaders.
He also met with Palestinian leaders in the occupied West Bank ahead of talks with Saudi leaders and other Gulf allies in Jeddah on Saturday.
“I – my background and my family’s background is Irish-American, and we have a long history of – not fundamentally different from the Palestinian people with Britain and their attitude to Irish Catholics over the years, during 400 years,” Mr Biden said. said in a speech Friday.
“But my colleagues, when I was a US Senator, always joked with me that I always quoted Irish poets when I sat on the floor of the Senate.
“And they thought I did it because I’m Irish. That’s not why I did it; I did it because they’re the best poets in the world.
He then quoted from the Seamus Heaney poem “The Cure at Troy,” which he described as “classically Irish, but it might suit Palestinians too” to make it clear that hope comes eternally.
Biden also referenced his heritage when he inscribed an inscription in the guest book at the presidential residence in Jerusalem upon his arrival.
“From our shared Irish roots to our shared love for Israel, we are united in heart and mind,” it read.
‘May our friendship endure and continue to grow! That’s the Irish of it, as my grandfather Finnegan would say. God bless you, Joe.’
Mr Herzog also spoke fondly of his own Irish heritage and described the meeting as “a great day for the Irish”.
Isaac Herzog’s father, former Israeli President Chaim Herzog, grew up in Dublin, where he became Ireland’s bantamweight boxing champion.
His grandfather, Rabbi Yitzhak Isaac HaLevi Herzog, was rabbi of Dublin after the Irish declaration of independence.
President Herzog presented the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor to the American leader at a ceremony in Jerusalem on July 14 in recognition of his 50 years of support for the country as a politician.
“I can say without hesitation that being known as a friend of Israel and receiving this award today is one of the greatest honors of my career,” Mr Biden said.
Biden said on Friday he told Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that he held him responsible for the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi as they held talks aimed at strengthening relations with key officials. to restore Arab ally.
Biden, after meeting with Saudi Arabia’s top leaders, said the crown prince, known as MbS, denied any involvement and said he had held those responsible to account.
Biden shared a punch with MbS and shook hands with King Salman after arriving in Saudi Arabia.
“With regard to Khashoggi’s murder, I brought it up at the top of the meeting to clarify what I thought at the time and what I think of it now,” Biden told reporters.
“I was straightforward and direct in discussing it. I made my point of view crystal clear. I said very clearly that a US president is silent on a matter of human rights, contrary to who we are and who I am.”
According to US intelligence, the crown prince has approved the murder of Khashoggi, a Saudi insider turned critic, directly by Saudi agents. Biden said it was outrageous what happened to Khashoggi.
“He basically said he wasn’t personally responsible for it,” Biden said of the crown prince’s response during their meeting. “I stated that I thought he was.”
The president said they also talked about energy and that he expects “further steps” from Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer, on energy in the coming weeks.
As a presidential candidate, Biden had said the assassination would make the kingdom a “pariah” on the world stage. He said Friday that he did not regret that comment.
Energy and security concerns prompted Biden and his aides to decide not to isolate the Gulf oil giant, which has strengthened ties with Russia and China.
The president’s interaction with the crown prince sparked criticism at home — starting with the punch.