Speaking at his last Hanukkah reception as president, Biden On Monday night he reiterated his “ironclad” support for Israel and said he was committed to bringing home every one of the hostages.
“I know this year’s Hanukkah falls on hearts that are still very heavy. This is the second Hanukkah since the horrors of October 7th. Over 1,000 were killed, hundreds were taken hostage, unspeakable sexual violence and much more. The trauma of that day and its aftermath is raw and ongoing.” , said President Joe Biden.
“I have taken out over 100 hostages. I will stop at nothing to bring every one of them home,” he added.
The president also denounced the “despicable rise of anti-Semitism” in the United States and around the world.
President Joe Biden speaks during a Hanukkah holiday reception in the East Room of the White House, December 16, 2024, in Washington.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
“I have said many times before that my commitment to the security of the Jewish people and Israel and its right to exist as an independent nation-state remains absolute,” he said.
In his remarks, Biden recalled taking each of his grandchildren to European concentration camps to understand the horrors of the Holocaust.
“I wanted you to know that you can’t pretend it didn’t happen, and it shouldn’t happen again,” Biden said.
“And so I learned a long time ago, you don’t have to be Jewish to be a Zionist. I am a Zionist,” Biden said, repeating a phrase he has used throughout his career.
President Joe Biden speaks during a Hanukkah reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Dec. 16, 2024.
Rod Lamkey/AP
The president’s remarks on Monday night came the day after he had scheduled them Democratic National Committee Holiday ReceptionAlong with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden, who has just over a month left in office, spoke about his legacy and the lasting impact he wanted to leave on America. “The one thing I’ve always believed about public service, and especially about the presidency, is the importance of asking yourself, ‘Did we leave the country better than we found it?'” Biden said in remarks Sunday afternoon. .
“Today, I can say, with (all) the fibers of my being, with all my heart, that the answer to that question is a resounding ‘yes’. Thanks to all of you gathered here, we can be proud that we are leaving America in a better place than it was four years ago,” Biden said.
