Israeli Premier Shimon Peres said last night that the Israeli people appreciate the friendship of the people of the U.S. “We are proud to be friends of the U.S., a country that only her generosity exceeds her power,” Peres said at a reception at the Israel Embassy which he called a “thanksgiving party.”
Expressing special appreciation to both Houses of Congress for their “constant” support, Peres presented to House Speaker Thomas O’Neill (D. Mass.) and Senate President Pro Tempore Strom Thurmond (R.S.C.) a symbol of U.S. Israeli friendship.
Both received a silkscreen by the Israeli artist Yaakov Agam, which has on one side the U.S. flag against a rainbow background and on the other, the blue and white colors of Israel. The print was in a revolving plexiglass frame.
“No matter how you turn it around you have the same results, friendship,” Peres said. Each of the some 1,000 guests at the reception, hosted by Ambassador Meir Rosenne, received a similar print folded like a fan.
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