"Every attack on the United States is an attack on Israel"

Israel commemorates 20th anniversary of 9/11 — Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (center) leads Israeli and US officials in commemorating the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Photo: Shlomi Amsalem/GPO

At a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, Israel Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said, “As we mark here 20 years since this horrific terrorist attack, I want to send a message from here to all US citizens and anyone who wants to harm the United States: an attack on you, is an attack on us. We share the same values of freedom and equality. We share the same enemies. You are our closest and most important friends and allies in the world. Whoever hurts our friends hurts us.”

The ceremony was attended by Head of the Michael Ratney, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Israel, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Mike Herzog, Consul General in New York Assaf Zamir and senior Foreign Ministry officials.

During the ceremony, which was held at the Foreign Ministry’s flag plaza, the US flag was lowered to half-mast by Marines stationed at the US Embassy in Jerusalem.

Shlomi Amsalem/GPO

US Marines lower the American flag to half-mast outside the Israel Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.

US Chargé d’Affaires Michael Ratney said at the ceremony: “We lower the flag in memory of the shock and terror of one terrible morning, and then wave it again to mark the way in which the United States, its people, allies and partners, including Israel, recovered from that shock to coordinate the international fight against terrorism.”

Foreign Minister Lapid added: “The purpose of terrorism is to rule by fear and terror. Terrorism wins only when it succeeds in changing our beliefs and our way of life. Twenty years after that terrible day, terrorists already know they have failed. As in many cases in the past, the US has proven again that the American spirit of ‘we will overcome’ has won again.”