My grandfather, Maurice Blinken, who founded the American Palestine Institute after the Second World War, initiated a report before independence that argued that a Jewish state was indeed possible – that it would in fact be easier to “support two million Jews than the present 600,000.” That report helped convince many skeptics, including within the United States Government. As Israel prepared to declare its independence, many members of President Truman’s cabinet, including the secretary of state, counseled against recognizing Israel, convinced that an independent Jewish state could not survive – that it wasn’t economically viable, that it lacked the natural resources to serve as the Jewish homeland, that it couldn’t bear an influx of immigrants, that it simply faced too many security threats. This partnership between the United States and Israel is indispensable. And the depth and breadth of that partnership between our governments is matched only by the strength of the ties between our peoples. Our ties have not only delivered for one another but for countries around the world – making deserts bloom, developing the clean energy technologies of the future, producing vaccines, charting the future of space exploration, and so much more. That partnership touches on every aspect of our lives, from security to business, from energy to public health. Today – today – we celebrate 75 years of the U.S.-Israeli partnership. Last month, we marked 75 years since the founding of the State of Israel. I know that it’s – during the course of the day and maybe even this morning, Chairman Menendez, Senator Barrasso, Chairman Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Wasserman-Schultz, among others – representing the continued bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship. It’s great to be with colleagues from the Hill. So I am honored to be here with hundreds of fellow friends of Israel from across our country. (Laughter.) Never thought that would happen. As I was talking with Michael and Howard and the other senior leadership of AIPAC a moment ago, I said my lifelong ambition has already been fulfilled by AIPAC because a few years ago – some of you may have been there – I got to appear in the Dallas Cowboys football stadium on a jumbotron. ![]() Now, I have to admit – (applause) – thank you. I’m grateful to you and grateful to my longtime friend, Howard Kohr, for inviting me back to AIPAC. Michael, my friend, thank you for that introduction.
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