Wilmington, DE — In front of a packed hall of more than 400 prominent Delawareans at a gala dinner, Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. last night received the prestigious Tree of Life Award from the Jewish National Fund (JNF) in recognition of his lifetime of work and devotion to the well-being of the State of Israel. With Republican U.S. Senator John McCain on hand to congratulate him, Biden accepted the award on behalf of millions of Israelis confronted by daily acts of terrorism.

“There can never be any excuse or explanation for terrorism against innocent civilians,” Biden said. “But I believe it is always darkest before the dawn, and I am convinced Israelis and Palestinians will find a way out of the current conflict. Those committing terrorist acts are desperate, and they know the path of violence is not supported by a majority who want to live normal lives.”