In warm speech to parliament, US House speaker lauds historic connection of Jewish people to the land; later says checks on government power a crucial part of democracy.

In an effusive and enthusiastic speech to the Knesset plenum, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy pledged Monday that the US would continue to fully fund Israel’s security needs, while denouncing Iranian aggression in the Middle East, as well as efforts to isolate Israel internationally.

In a speech replete with both praise for Israel and biblical quotations, McCarthy lauded Israel as the birthplace of the Jewish people, described the country as a “modern miracle,” and insisted on its right to defend itself from attack.