Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting today at the Kirya in Tel Aviv with a bipartisan US Congressional delegation led by House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX).

At the outset of the meeting, the delegation presented Prime Minister Netanyahu with two declarations affirming support for Israel’s right to defend itself and defeat Hamas—one from the Senate and one from the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for these declarations of support.

Prime Minister Netanyahu commented on the declarations, stating, “This is an expression of the will, the resolve, and the moral clarity of the American people as represented by its representatives. So we thank you deeply. We say that the only thing greater than standing with Israel is standing in Israel, and we appreciate the fact that you’re here. And we appreciate deeply your support.”

He added, “I have to say that the moral clarity that I was talking about is the fact that the American people, through the Senate and the Congress, and in broad swaths of the American public, understand that this is a battle of civilization against barbarism. Israel stands at that front line, but it’s fighting not only for itself but fighting also for America, for the free world, and for the hope of progress against these barbarians.”

Representing the Israeli side at the meeting were the Minister for Strategic Affairs, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, the Prime Minister’s Military Secretary, and the Prime Minister’s Foreign Policy Adviser.

On the American side, attendees included US Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), US Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), US Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), US Rep. John James (D-MI), US Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), US Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), US Rep. Madeline Dean (D-PA), and US Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), along with US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew.