(VIDEO AND PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

Vice President Mike Pence began the first day of his state visit to Israel on Monday, 6 Shevat. He met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu during the morning hours. Following are Mr. Netanyahu�s remarks made at the start of their meeting.

“Mr. Vice President, I�ve had the privilege over the years of standing here with hundreds of world leaders and welcome them, all of them to Israel�s capital, Jerusalem.

This is the first time that I�m standing when both leaders can say those three words, �Israel�s capital, Jerusalem.�

I want to thank President Trump and you for that historic statement, which I know you supported and championed.

I look forward to discussing with you, as we�ve just begun, how to further strengthen our remarkable alliance�it�s never been stronger�and how to advance peace and security in our region, which is our common aim.

And I welcome you, dear friend, to Jerusalem. Welcome.”

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem/photo credit: Haim Zach, GPO)