At his final Chanukah celebration at the White House, President Joe Biden promised to ensure the release of the remaining 100 hostages held in Gaza.
Biden made this pledge to a crowd of hundreds, vowing, “I’ve gotten over 100 hostages out. I will not stop until I get every single one of them home,” which was met with loud applause.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who has spearheaded the administration’s fight against antisemitism, spoke before Biden. He reaffirmed his commitment to continuing this battle, saying, “Tonight, I am rededicating myself to fighting antisemitism and hatred of all kinds,” and vowed to carry on these efforts even after the administration’s term ends in just over a month.
Anne Neuberger, deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology, introduced Biden, thanking the president for his visit to Israel following Hamas’s devastating attack on October 7. She described his visit as him “pay[ing] a shiva call” to Israel.
Biden reiterated his stance on Zionism, stating, “And I’m a Zionist,” which drew applause from the crowd. He emphasized that one does not have to be Jewish to stand in support of Zionism.
The Chanukah menu featured traditional treats like latkes, parve sour cream, thinly sliced beef tenderloin, and an assortment of jelly and chocolate-filled donuts.
{Matzav.com}