Jewish Alliance reacts to President Biden’s visit to Israel

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Following President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel earlier this week — ABC 6 News spoke to leaders among the Jewish community in Rhode Island on their reaction to the president’s symbolic visit and comments from Israel during the war.

“It’s been a really tough time for our community, but at the same time, it’s been really heartening to have so many people come out and show their support for our community and for Israel in their time of need,” said Adam Greenman, CEO of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

Biden met with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as Egyptian leaders, and secured a deal that allows the safe passage of life-saving aid to Gaza. The news of the aid was a positive update to Greenman, who says he is hoping for a peaceful end to the war in the Middle East.

“To be able to announce that we’ll be putting humanitarian support in for the innocent Palestinian people who didn’t want this war is also really important,” he said.

In Rhode Island, over the past two weeks since the violence started between Israel and Hamas, Greenman said he has seen an outpouring of support from members of the community. He also told ABC 6 they have had threats made against the Jewish community that has gone unfounded.

Earlier this week, a hospital in Gaza was bombed, triggering several Arab leaders to accuse Israel’s military of being behind the attack.

Before leaving Israel, the president acknowledged some of the lessons learned from past United States involvement in Middle East conflict.

“I come to Israel with a single message — you’re not alone. You are not alone,” Biden said during a speech.

“Justice must be done,” he later said, “But I caution while you feel that rage, don’t be consumed by it. After 9/11, we were in rage in the United States. While we sought justice, and got justice, we also made mistakes.”