WASHINGTON – The Holocaust survivors who helped build Israel "made our world better," U.S. Gen. David Petraeus said Thursday.

"The men and women who walked or were carried out of the death camps, and their descendents, have enriched our world immeasurably in the sciences and in the arts, in literature and in philanthropy," said Petraeus, keynote speaker at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum commemoration in the Capitol Rotunda.

"They have made extraordinary contributions in academia, in business, and in government. And, they have, of course, helped build a nation that stands as one of our great allies. The survivors have, in short, made our country and our world better, leaving lasting achievements wherever they settled."

Petraeus' speech came just days after the commander of Central Command, who directs U.S. deployments in the Middle East, said, "Israel is, has been, is and will be an important strategic ally of the United States.”

Petraeus has sought to place in context his Senate testimony last month which drew some conservative and pro-Israel criticism — and some liberal praise — for linking some U.S. difficulties in the region with perceptions that the United States favors Israel.