U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to the White House on Wednesday for a private meeting following by a Hanukkah celebration with American Jewish leaders.
World Jewish Congress CEO Robert Singer and WJC Director of Programming Sonia Gomes de Mesquita were among the hundreds of guests at the celebration in the East Room, where the White House Hanukkiah was lit.
Before lighting the candles, Obama told the guests that the meeting earlier that day with his Israeli counterpart had been “excellent.”
"Earlier today, we had an excellent meeting where we reaffirmed the unbreakable bond between the Untied States and Israel," Obama said. "President Rivlin is a strong voice for equal treatment of all citizens of Israel and greater understanding between Israelis and Palestinians. I was deeply moved by his expressions of commitment to equality and justice."
Rivlin, meanwhile applauded "Obama's strong moral leadership in the world."
"Today, we are all looking for strong and clear moral leadership of the kind you represent, President Obama,” said the Israeli president.
