US Election: Jewish leaders around the world congratulate Joe Biden on victory

Jewish leaders from around the world have congratulated president-elect Joe Biden on his victory in the American election.

Biden topped 270 electoral college votes needed for victory over Donald Trump. He was called as the winner of Pennsylvania on Saturday, meaning he has an insurmountable lead in the race for the White House, with 270 electoral college votes.

Reacting to his victory, Board of Deputies of British Jews president, Marie van der Zyl, said: “after a divisive and tumultuous few years in American and global politics, we hope that he will lead global efforts to tackle Coronavirus, strengthen ties with allies like the UK and heal the wounds between different groups in American society.”

“We also hope that he will continue in the strong tradition of bipartisan support for the world’s only Jewish state, the State of Israel, and reverse the rise of antisemitism and racism in America and beyond.”

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Steve McCabe MP, chair of Labour Friends of Israel, said he was “overjoyed at Joe Biden’s victory”. He said it is “enormously encouraging to have a Democratic president-elect with such an unshakeable commitment to the Jewish state and a two-state solution.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted his congratulations, adding: “The US is our most important ally and I look forward to working closely together on our shared priorities, from climate change to trade and security.”

Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu also tweeted his congratulations, while thanking President Donald Trump for his support for Israel during his tenure.

Netanyahu said: “Joe, we’ve had a long & warm personal relationship for nearly 40 years, and I know you as a great friend of Israel. I look forward to working with both of you to further strengthen the special alliance between the U.S. and Israel.

He added: “Thank you Donald Trump for the friendship you have shown the state of Israel and me personally, for recognising Jerusalem and the Golan, for standing up to Iran, for the historic peace accords and for bringing the American-Israeli alliance to unprecedented heights.”

Rivlin said: “I send the blessings of the Israeli people and of the State of Israel”, adding that Biden “as a long-standing friend of Israel”.

He heralded the “strategic alliance between our two countries”, while thanking “Trump for four years of partnership in strengthening Israel’s security.”

“I have no doubt that our special relations and multifaceted cooperation will continue to flourish and grow in the future.”

While congratulating the Democratic president-elect, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis, expressed “thanks to outgoing US President, Donald Trump, for his unwavering support of Israel”, including the signing of the Abraham Accords with Bahrain and the UAE.

Hoping “US Jewry will overcome its deep political divisions and become united on all crucial issues”, he wished Biden “G-d’s blessings and wisdom to navigate the US through the pandemic and provide relief, prosperity and peace to the people of the US”, as well as fighting antisemitism.

More to follow …