The U.S.-Israel relationship is one of modern history’s great alliances, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today, after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“We share common interests, which are growing by the day,” Netanyahu said. “We share common values; two strong democracies which will remain, I assure you, two strong democracies.” He called President Joe Biden, whom he has known for 40 years, “a true friend of Israel, a true champion of this alliance.”

Netanyahu said Israelis might not know how much Washington has helped Israel–in one crisis “in record time”–with missile defense. “You’ve also just helped us push back on the attempts to delegitimize Israel in the United Nations,” he said. “We’re grateful for that and for your continual friendship.”

Blinken called the meeting with Netanyahu “a very productive, very candid, and I think important discussion that covered a lot of issues.” He added that he had expressed his condolences to the victims of Friday’s terrorist shooting–which took place at a synagogue in Jerusalem and claimed seven lives and injured several–to Netanyahu.

The U.S. secretary added that Biden called Netanyahu immediately after the attack to underscore the steadfast support of the U.S. for Israel and its people. Blinken reaffirmed that message in his meeting with Netanyahu.

Photo by Yoav Ari Dudkevitch/POOL