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On Wednesday evening, Ambassador Nikolaus Lutterotti and Mrs. Betina Lutterotti hosted Austria’s National Day celebration at the Ambassador’s residence in Herzliya Pituach. Guests enjoyed live music and refreshments, including imported drinks and cuisine, as they celebrated Austrian sovereignty, and the growth of Austrian-Israel bilateral ties.
After hearing the anthems of Austria, Israel and the European Union, Ambassador Lutterotti opened the speeches. The ambassador talked about the thriving ties between the countries, with a bedrock based on Austria’s staunch commitment to fighting anti-semitism and Holocaust denial. The ambassador noted the December 2020 amended Citizenship law that allows descendants of Austrian refugees to receive Austrian citizenship, with 7,700 applicants from Israel in the last two years.
As evidence of the strong relationship between Austria and Israel, the ambassador mentioned the numerous high level visits to further cooperation, welcoming in that vein a delegation of Austrian parliamentarians, members of the Transatlantic group of friends, present at the celebration. This year Mrs. Goldi Muller Director Marketing-& Sales Office Israel from the Austrian Tourist Board also held an important conference in Tel Aviv in March promoting tourism to Austria and business ties. Ambassador Lutterotti also acknowledged the Austrian Jewish community in Israel and in Austria as key to advancing the ties between the two nations.
Minister of Education, Mrs. Yifat Shasha-Biton, spoke on behalf of the state of Israel. Minister Biton began by thanking the Ambassador for Austria’s staunch support for Israel, including raising the Israeli flag above the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Vienna during Operation Guardian of the Walls, as well as international fora including the EU and UN.
The minister noted the close ties between the two nations, predating both modern states, with Theodor Herzl living in Vienna for years, the first hospice for Christian pilgrims in the Old City of Jerusalem founded in 1854 by the Archbishop of Vienna, and Kaiser Franz Josef
and his wife Elizabeth’s visit in 1869.
In recalling the dark moments of the Holocaust, Minister Shasha Biton expressed appreciation for efforts undertaken by the government of Austria to combat anti-semitism and warn of the dangers, including recently erecting a Holocaust memorial in the center of Vienna, adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism in the European Union, and educating about the Holocaust and anti-semitism in Austrian schools.
Looking ahead, the minister noted the strong and thriving ties between the two countries, including a recent visit by the chairperson of Yad Vashem to Austria to sign bilateral agreements. Minister Shasha Biton then raised a toast to the success of Austria.
The distinguished guests in attendance included the Israeli Minister of Education, Mrs. Yifat Shasha-Biton; Mr. Gil Haskel, Chief of State Protocol at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affair; Israeli actress Einat Weizman; honorary consul of Spain, Mr. Wadie Abu Nassar; Father Rafic Nahra, Nazareth representative of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem; Dr. Noah Wolfson, President of Meteo-tech; Esther Mor, World WIZO president; former Israeli ambassador to Austria, Aviv Shiron, Geraldine Beideck, Senior Sales Manager, Interalpen Hotel Tyrol, and Rebecca Speidel, Tourism and Sales Manager at D. Swarovski Tourism Services; Dr. Laurence Weinbaum, Director General of WJC Israel and of the Israel Council on Foreign Relations, and Mrs. Rebecca Kirchbaumer from the Austrian Jewish community, as well as ambassadors and members of the diplomatic community in Israel, and leaders of the Austrian Jewish community in Israel and in Austria.
Diplomacy.co.il offers congratulations to the Austrian Government, Embassy and people on its National Day, and best wishes for success and strong bilateral relations between the nations
Steven Aiello Founder--DebateforPeace
https://debateforpeace.
Photos by Silvia G. Golan
More Pics at Facebook Diplomacy Israel / Israel Diplo / Silvia G Golan
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- Written by Silvia G. Golan & Amal Buqai Kayal
The Hungarian embassy held its annual celebration of the 1956 revolution on Monday evening, October 24th, marking 66 years since this important national event.
H.E. Ambassador Benko Levente & Mrs. Andrea Weiszer held a reception in Camilo- The Green House, Tel Aviv. Diplomats, civil society leaders, and friends of the embassy that attended the event enjoyed Hungarian drinks and delicacies to mark the occasion.
After the playing of the national anthems of Hungary and Israel, the Hungarian Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Levente Benkő opened the event. Ambassador Benkő welcomed the guests and mentioned the good relationship and partnership that connect Hungary with the state of Israel, " First of all, we can proudly say that Hungary is among Israel’s best friends in Europe – a friendship that has recently yielded an important result with the organization of the EU-Israel Association Council after ten long years. We are determined to make sure that the Council, with the participation of PM Yair Lapid and European foreign ministers, was not a one-off and the partnership between Europe and Israel returns to the level where it duly belongs."
Ambassador Benkő also noted that Israel remains a strategic ally for Hungary as an “anchor of stability” in a turbulent region, as well as for its technological innovation, with a Hungarian company recently acquiring ownership in Israel’s leading satellite operator.
Finally, the ambassador recalled the 1956 revolution, and the courage of those who fought against communism, and the 20,000 Hungarian Jews who emigrated to Israel following the Soviet repression of Hungarian independence.
Honorary guest and former President of Israel H.E. Mr. Reuven Rivlin was invited by Ambassador Benkő to welcome the celebration. "I am very happy and very honored to be here and celebrate along with you members of the international community, especially with the Hungarian people, the Prime Minister of Hungary, and the President of Hungary".
"Mr. Ambassador, I appreciate you standing behind Israel in international organization and in international forums and it is very important for us , and I would like to thank all the Hungarian people for this attitude and this support."
The second part of the celebration was tasting traditional Hungarian food that was served to the guests like Blinches, Borsh, Goulash, and sweeties and enjoying live music that was played by musicians Tibi Golan, Eran Horovitz, Shmuel Lemberger, and Tamara Golan. The ambassador then raised a toast with the president to the success of Israel-Hungarian relations.
The distinguished guest list included Gil Haskel, Chief of State Protocol at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former director of Mashav; members of the Ephraim Kishon foundation for strengthening Hungarian linguistic and cultural heritage in Israel; Mr. and Mrs. Josef Weiss, owners of Adria Airways; Georgina Litvak - Corporate Account Manager - Hilton Tel Aviv; Gideon Tahler, Chairman of Tal Aviation, the official representative of various Airlines in Israel ; ambassadors, members of various diplomatic missions, officials of both governments, representatives of the IDF and Israel Police, business leaders and other guests from both nations.
Diplomacy.co.il offers congratulations to the Embassy of Hungary, to the Government and the Hungarian people on the 66th anniversary of the 1956 revolution.
Mrs. Amal Buqai Kayal is a member of Debate for Peace
Photos Silvia Golan
More Pics at Facebook Diplomacy Israel / Israel Diplo
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- Written by Silvia G. Golan & Steven Aiello
Embassy of the Slovak Republic Celebrates Constitution Day and the Day of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic with Rooftop Reception
The Embassy of the Slovak Republic held a reception to mark the occasion of Constitution Day and the Day of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic on Monday evening at 1 Rothschild in center Tel Aviv. Guests enjoyed the rooftop view, dinner, and a collection of wines.
After the playing of the national anthems of Slovakia and Israel, the Slovak Ambassador, H.E. Igor Maukš, opened the event. Ambassador Maukš talked about what this day means for Slovakians: respect for rule of law, human rights, democratic values and integrity. The ambassador noted that the bilateral relationship with Israel was critical for the Slovak Republic. Among many partnerships between Israel and the Slovak Republic, the ambassador highlighted the opening of the Slovak Institute in Jerusalem to promote artistic and cultural sharing.
Ambassador Maukš also welcomed Israeli Minister of Intelligence Elazar Stern, who recently visited Slovakia on an official visit, and noted that the President of Israel, Mr. Isaac Herzog, would soon visit Slovakia as well. The ambassador mentioned that with Slovakia assuming the presidency of the Visigrad group, it would be prioritizing Connectivity, Sustainability, and economic issues.
Minister Elazar Stern spoke on behalf of the Israeli government. The minister noted that Czechoslovakia was among the first nations to recognize Israel in 1948, and Israel returned the favor when it recognized the newly independent Slovakia.
In highlighting the strong relationship between the two countries, the minister cited Prime Minister Lapid’s visit to Slovakia as foreign minister in March, as well as visits to Israel by the foreign minister and deputy foreign minister of Slovakia, the chairman of the Parliament, and the ministers of agriculture and health. Minister Stern also recalled his own recent visit to Slovakia, and the positive developments and cooperation between the two countries. The minister also expressed appreciation for the opening of the Slovakian Center in Jerusalem as an important step for the bilateral relations.
Following the speeches of the ambassador and the minister, a special award was presented to Anat Warshavski, an Israeli artist who won an art competition sponsored by the embassy.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance were: Mr. Gil Haskel, Chief of State Protocol at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Jakub Urik, the director of the Slovak Institute in Jerusalem; Tzachi Braverman and Adi Baruch (Senior Counsel of MK Benjamin Netanyahu); Georgina Litvak - Corporate Account Manager - Hilton Tel Aviv; Israel World Diamond Exchange president Boaz Moldavski and his wife Ayala; Mr. David Freeman, Jerusalem Representative of the Baha'i community, and many members of the diplomatic corps and military representatives in Israel.
The Staff of www.diplomacy.co.il congratulates the government, people, and Embassy of Slovak Republic on the occasion of their National & Army Day
Steven Aiello
Founder--DebateforPeace
https://debateforpeace.wordpress.com/
Photos Silvia Golan
More Pics at Facebook Diplomacy Israel and Israel Diplo / Silvia G Golan
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- Written by Silvia G. Golan & Steven Aiello
A joyous reception was held on Tuesday evening in honor of Fiesta Nacional de España, the National Day of Spain. H.E. Mrs. Ana María Salomón Pérez, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain, hosted the celebration at the Ambassador’s residence in Herzliya.
Guests enjoyed Spanish music and refreshments all evening, including delicacies like Tortilla de Papa, Empanadas de Atún, Sandwiches de Miga, Queso Manchego and Crema catalana, accompanied by Spanish beverages like sangria and ron. The kosher catering company Paella Valencia ensured that all the guests got to try Valencia’s signature dish.
After hearing the national anthems, Ambassador Salomón Pérez opened her remarks, welcoming guests to the celebration, the first in person celebration of this event since Covid 19 suspended meetings. The ambassador noted the somber effects of the pandemic, as well as aggression on European soil with the invasion of Ukraine, before returning to the festive theme of the evening.
Ambassador Salomón Pérez spoke of Spain and Israel as being on opposite sides of the Mediterranean, and the goal of it being a “sea of peace”, and on that note congratulated Israel on the recent energy deal with Lebanon.
The ambassador noted the historic ties of Jews to Spain, including such luminaries as Maimonides, Judah Halevi and Solomon Ibn Gabirol. Ambassador Salomón Pérez talked of the future ties between Israel and Spain as well, with a growing relationship based on shared democratic values, and growing economic cooperation. More than 300,000 Israelis visit Spain annually, reflecting the significant interest in Spanish history, culture, and of course sports.
President Emeritus Reuven Rivlin spoke on behalf of the state of Israel. President Rivlin relayed blessings on behalf of President Isaac Herzog. The president reminisced about his own state visit to Spain, and the warm reception he received from the royal family there.
President Rivlin remarked upon the important and lasting legacy of Spanish culture on Jewish history, with Sepharadim–Jews of Spanish heritage, constituting a plurality of the Jewish population in Israel, and the role of Ladino, the Judeo-Spanish language. The president noted the great scholars from Maimonides and Nahmanides, on to Spinoza, who were part of this rich Jewish-Spanish community. In conclusion, President Rivlin raised a toast to the health and success of the people and government of Spain.
The many distinguished guests included: President Emeritus Reuven Rivlin; Artist Miri Shafir-Navon, widow of Yitzhak Navon, the fifth president of the State of Israel; Professor Shimon Shetreet, the Greenblatt Chair of Public and International Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a former Minister of Economy, Science, and Religious Affairs; the Israeli Foreign Ministry's Chief of Protocol Gil Haskel; David and Tracy Freeman, Baha'i representatives in Jerusalem; Dan Catarivas, Director General – Foreign Trade and International Relations at the Manufacturers Association of Israel; Matias Schapiro, President of the Israel-Spain Chamber of Commerce; Henrique Cymerman & Dr. Nirit Ofir from the Israel Gulf Cooperation Council Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Davy Antebi from the Southern Europe department at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Aitor Almendros, Head of the startup Platform at Cardumen Capital ; Yona Bartal, representative of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, Gideon Tahler, Chairman of Tal Aviation, the official representative of Air Europa Airlines in Israel, Georgina Litvak - Corporate Account Manager - Hilton Tel Aviv; Micha Harish - Former Minister of Industry and Commerce , former Chairman of Israel - Spain Chamber and Commerce ; Moshe Shoham - Former Economic Counsellor of Israel in Spain , former Managing Director of the Israel - Spain Chamber of Commerce , and members of the Cervantes Institute.
The Director and staff of www.diplomacy.co.il share their good wishes to the Ambassador, Embassy Staff and to the people of Spain on this auspicious occasion.
Steven Aiello
Founder--DebateforPeace
& member of http://www.diplomacy.co.il/
https://debateforpeace.
Photos and Videos by Silvia G. Golan
More Pics at Facebook Diplomacy Israel and Israel Diplo / Silvia G Golan
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- Written by Silvia G. Golan & Steven Aiello
The Embassy of Nepal celebrated Constitution Day, and 61 years of Nepal-Israel bilateral relations, with a festive reception at the Ambassador’s Residence in Herzliya on Sunday night. The evening brought the flavors of Nepal to Israel, with traditional cuisine prepared for guests to enjoy.
The Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, H.E. Kanta Rizal, wearing a traditional sari, greeted the guests. After the playing of the national anthems, a traditional candle lighting ceremony was held. Ambassador Rizal then began her formal remarks.
Ambassador Rizal explained the importance of Constitution Day as “the day to celebrate our achievements,” with the celebration lasting three days this year to include both the Gregorian date and the Nepali date. The ambassador spoke about the importance of enshrining secularism and inclusiveness as founding values, protecting the religious, linguistic, ethnic and cultural diversity of Nepal.
The ambassador lauded the strong ties between Israel and Nepal, and expressed appreciation for Israeli support during the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, as well during Covid 19, and through agricultural training programs. Ambassador Rizal closed by reiterating her confidence that the bilateral relations would only continue to grow in the future.
Tamar Zandberg, the Minister of Environmental Protection, spoke next, noting that the long history of strong bilateral ties included then Prime Minister of Nepal B.P. Koirala’s visit to Israel and meeting with Israel’s founding prime minister, David Ben Gurion, in 1960. The minister spoke of how the connection between the countries has blossomed to include agriculture, health, education, tourism, security and humanitarian aid, demonstrating the “true friendship shared between our peoples.”
Minister Zandberg highlighted the foreign ministry’s MASHAV and the “Learn and Earn” training program which has trained thousands of graduates to return to Nepal “equipped with unprecedented knowledge and experience in modern Israeli farming technology.” The minister also commended Nepal on its democratic stability as a model for other countries to emulate.
As environmental protection minister, Minister Zandberg also addressed the shared challenge of both Israel and Nepal as countries facing the impacts of climate change, and “climate-vulnerable” countries. In closing, she reiterated the best wishes of the Israeli government and people to the nation of Nepal on their national day.
Nepal is a beloved tourist destination for many Israelis, including those interested in hiking. In that regard, high altitude mountaineer Nadav Ben Yehuda, Honorary Public Relations Representative of the Nepal Tourism Board, took the stage to talk about the touristic highlights of Nepal, while playing a video showing the beauty and diversity of the country.
The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, also sent a formal gift for the ambassador, following her recent arrival to take up the position. The gift was presented at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Guests then enjoyed the traditional dishes, with the ambience of festive lights and decorations. For those planning a trip or just eager for more information, there were books and fliers in English and Hebrew about visiting Nepal.
The distinguished guests in attendance included Mr. Gil Haskel, Chief of State Protocol at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affair; Rafael Harpaz, deputy director general of the Asia Pacific department of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dan Ben Eliezer, former Israel Ambassador to Nepal; Michael Ronen - Head of India and Southeast Asia Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Major General (Res) Matan Vilnai; Raviv Byron, President of the Israel-India & Nepal Chamber of Commerce; Stephen Abrahams from the Ministry of National Infrastructures Energy and Water Resources; Mr. David Freeman, Jerusalem Representative of the Baha'i community, and many members of the diplomatic corps in Israel.
The Staff of www.diplomacy.co.il congratulates the government, people, and Embassy of Nepal on the occasion of their National Day,
Steven Aiello
Founder--DebateforPeace
https://debateforpeace.wordpress.com/
Photos Silvia Golan
More Pics at Facebook Israel Diplo
