TEL AVIV, July 4. /TASS/. Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu called US President Donald Trump and the American nation "dear friends" in his congratulatory address on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of US independence.

"We may live in different continents, but there's a strong bond between us, because we have one destiny. We know that freedom is never cheap. It must be continually purchased, it must be continually defended. America has been the greatest force for liberty the modern world has known. Israel is proud to stand beside her, Israel is proud to stand beside all of you, because our alliance is built not only on shared interest, it's built on shared values," he said in the video address posted on X.