Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) delivered greetings at an Israel Independence Day party in Washington.
Cheney’s appearance Thursday at the gala event was announced days in advance, but Obama, the front-runner in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination only confirmed just hours before the party started. He earned whooping cheers when he walked on stage and was crushed by well-wishers afterwards.
“This is a time for Israelis, Jews, and all friends of Israel to celebrate the realization of a dream, and to rededicate ourselves to upholding the promise of Israel’s independence,” he said.
Cheney arrived about an hour later, and delivered greetings from President Bush who is at his Texas ranch preparing for his daughter Jenna’s wedding this weekend.
“Israel has never had a better friend in the White House than the 43rd President of the United States,” Cheney said to applause and cheers. “The United States and Israel have persevered through many difficulties, and the tests of history have found us ready. As fellow democracies, we cherish a friendship based on shared principles, a shared commitment to the safety of our peoples, and a deep willingness to labor intensively in the cause of security and lasting peace.”
Also speaking was Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.). U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives was also in attendance.
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