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PM Netanyahu's Speech at the White House Signing Ceremony for the Historic Peace Agreements, the "Abraham Accords", with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain
PM Netanyahu: The people of Israel well know the price of war. And this is why I am so deeply moved to be here today. For those who bear the wounds of war cherish the blessings of peace.
ollowing is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech today (Tuesday, 15 September 2020), at the White House in Washington DC, at the signing ceremony for the historic peace agreements, the "Abraham Accords", with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, in the presence of US President Donald Trump, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed and Bahrain Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif Al Zayani:
"Ladies and gentlemen,
“Mr. President,
“This day is a pivot of history. It heralds a new dawn of peace. For thousands of years, the Jewish people have prayed for peace. For decades, the Jewish state has prayed for peace. And this is why today we're filled with such profound gratitude. I am grateful to you, President Trump, for your decisive leadership. You have unequivocally stood by Israel's side. You have boldly confronted the tyrants of Tehran. You've proposed a realistic vision for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. And you have successfully brokered the historic peace that we are signing today, a peace that has broad support in Israel, in America, in the Middle East—indeed in the entire world.
“I am grateful to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates and to you, Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed. I thank you both for your wise leadership and for working with the United States and Israel to expand the circle of peace.
“I am grateful to King Hamad of Bahrain and to you, Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, for joining us in bringing hope to all the children of Abraham.
“To all of Israel's friends in the Middle East, those who are with us today and those who will join us tomorrow, I say As-salamu alaykum, peace unto you. Shalom.
“And you have heard from the president that he is already lining up more and more countries. This was unimaginable a few years ago, but with resolve, determination, a fresh look at the way peace is done, this is being achieved.
“Thank you, Mr. President.
“Ladies and gentlemen,
“The people of Israel well know the price of war. I know the price of war. I was wounded in battle. A fellow soldier, a very close friend of mine, died in my arms. My brother Yoni lost his life while leading his soldiers to rescue hostages held by terrorists at Entebbe. My parents' grief over the loss of Yoni was unrelieved until their dying day. And over the years, when I have come to console the families of Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terror, I have seen that same grief countless times. And this is why I am so deeply moved to be here today. For those who bear the wounds of war cherish the blessings of peace.
“And the blessings of the peace we make today will be enormous. First, because this peace will eventually expand to include other Arab states, and ultimately it can end the Arab-Israeli conflict once and for all. Second, because the great economic benefits of our partnership will be felt throughout our region, and they will reach every one of our citizens. And third, because this is not only a peace between leaders, it's a peace between peoples—Israelis, Emiratis and Bahrainis are already embracing one another. We are eager to invest in a future of partnership, prosperity and peace. We've already begun to cooperate on combating corona, and I am sure that together we can find solutions to many of the problems that afflict our region and beyond.
“So despite the many challenges and hardships that we all face—despite all that—let us pause for a moment to appreciate this remarkable day. Let us rise above any political divide. Let us put all cynicism aside. Let us feel on this day the pulse of history. For long after the pandemic is gone, the peace we make today will endure.
“Ladies and gentlemen,
“I have devoted my life to securing Israel's place among the nations, to ensure the future of the one and only Jewish state. To accomplish that goal, I have worked to make Israel strong, very strong, for history has taught us that strength brings security, strength brings allies and ultimately—and this is something President Trump has said again and again—ultimately strength brings peace.
“King David expressed this basic truth thousands of years ago in our eternal capital, Jerusalem. His prayer, immortalized in the Book of Psalms in the Bible, echoes from our glorious past and guides us towards a brilliant future:
“'ה' עז לעמו יתן ה' יברך את עמו בשלום.'
“'May God give strength to his people, may God bless his people with peace.'
“Mr. President,
“Distinguished guests,
“This week is Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, and what a blessing we bring to this new year, a blessing of friendship, a blessing of hope, a blessing of peace".
Photo :PM Netanyahu with US President Trump, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed (far right) and Bahrain Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif Al Zayani (far left)
Copyright: GPO/Avi Ohayon
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- Written by Steven Aiello
The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan marked the 1150th anniversary of the birth of legendary Islamic philosopher Al-Farabi with the commemoration of a memorial plaque in the coastal city of Haifa on Tuesday morning. A renowned scholar who lived during a period of intellectual flourishing when the Islamic world led the world in scientific and scholastic activity, Abu Nasr Al-Farabi became one of the most influential philosophers. A prolific thinker and writer who covered philosophy, metaphysics, cosmology, logic, music and other topics, Al-Farabi played a key role in translating and transmitting Aristotelianism and neo-Platonism to subsequent generations of teachers and students. Al-Farabi’s influence extended to thinkers of all religious persuasions, including the Muslim scholar Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and the Jewish medieval sage Maimonides, both whom drew heavily upon Al-Farabi’s ideas in their own philosophical works.
H.E. Ambassador Satybaldy Burshakov, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Israel, opened his remarks by thanking the municipality of Haifa, as well as Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Israel, Mr. David Luxembourg, for their cooperation in honoring Al-Farabi. The ambassador also thanked the Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Galimkair Mutanov and President of the Turkic Academy Darkhan Kydyrali. Ambassador Burshakov mentioned that the commemoration of Al-Farabi was an international occasion under the auspices of UNESCO, in light of Al-Farabi’s great influence on humanity.
The ambassador highlighted some of Al-Farabi’s prescient ideas, such as an early version of disaster risk reduction and the potential in nations helping one another. In light of that, the ambassador praised the cooperation between Israel and Kazakhstan, and in particular the medical cooperation during the Covid 19 period.
The memorial plaque to Al-Farabi was dedicated on a Haifa street that had already been named for Al-Farabi previously, and Ambassador Burshakov noted that this showed the great esteem in which the scholar was held by so many cultures.
President of the Turkic Academy Mr. Darkhan Kydyrali had prepared remarks to be shown at the ceremony. Mr. Kydyrali explained that Al-Farabi was known as the “Second Teacher”, after Aristotle, the “First Teacher,” a great sign of respect. He noted that Al-Farabi’s work ranged widely from theological issues to social philosophy, with his influence extending far beyond his own time and locale, to the eventual intellectual development of the European scholastic community as well. Mr. Kydyrali finished by thanking the mayor and municipality of Haifa, as well as Ambassador Burshakov and Honorary Consul Mr. Luxembourg for arranging this important event. Following the speeches, Ambassador Burshakov unveiled the plaque, which will now serve as a memorial and to educate all the passersby who walk down Al-Farabi street in Haifa.
Among the guests were also Lazar Kaplun - Deputy Mayor of Haifa City, Gary Koren member of the Haifa City Council - Chairman of the Immigration and Absorpcion Committee , Mrs. Nataya Divinsky President of the International Organization of Jews from Kazakhstan & Central Asia and Mrs Tjireya Tjitendero from the Bahá'í World Center .
Diplomacy.co.il congratulates the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Haifa Municipality and the Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Israel on this important initiative to promote cultural and intellectual historical awareness.
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The office in Honduras was opened today after Honduras recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and opened a trade office in Jerusalem about a year ago.
In a virtual meeting held today (Thursday August 20, 2020), with his Honduran counterpart, Foreign Minister Lisandro Rosales Banegas, and in the presence of the President of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabi Ashkenazi inaugurated the official representative office of the State of Israel in Honduras. The Israeli office in Honduras will focus on promoting joint projects in the fields of economics and development.
FM Ashkenazi thanked the Honduran president and foreign minister for their support of Israel in the international arena and promised to strengthen the friendly relations and cooperation in various fields.
The office in Honduras was opened today after Honduras recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and opened a trade office in Jerusalem about a year ago.
The opening of the offices in the two capitals is an additional step towards the opening of the Honduran embassy in Jerusalem and the reopening of the Israeli embassy in Tegucigalpa, he Honduran capital.
FM Ashkenazi: The Israeli flag was officially hoisted today for the first time in 26 years. This is an important step in the development of the bilateral relationship between and the strengthening the bonds of friendship between the peoples. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work to strengthen Israel's international standing, and to develop and expand our relations with the countries of the world.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabi Ashkenazi at the inauguration . Photo: MFA.
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The Serbian government has decided to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem. Following the government of Israel’s decision to establish diplomatic relations with Kosovo, the government of Kosovo has announced it will open its embassy in Jerusalem
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabi Ashkenazi: “I welcome the decision of the Serbian government to move its embassy to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. This is an important and courageous step that testifies to the depth of relations between Israel and Serbia and will lead to the strengthening of the friendship between the two nations.”
Following the government of Israel’s decision to establish diplomatic relations with Kosovo and Kosovo's announcement of the opening of an embassy in Jerusalem, FM Ashkenazi said:
“We view the decision of Serbia and Kosovo to establish embassies in Jerusalem as a symbolic step towards promoting peace between these countries. The city of Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the State of Israel, will constitute a bridge of peace to the entire world. I call on other countries to follow in their footsteps and move their embassies to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel.”
FM Ashkenazi thanked US President Trump and the US administration for leading the move and for its regional and international leadership:
“The US administration continues to lead to significant diplomatic breakthroughs, both in our relations with Serbia and Kosovo, as in the promotion of normalization and the historic peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Israel has no better ally than the United States.”
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About twenty ambassadors and diplomats from foreign countries enjoyed a joint tour in the Tzippori National Park and the region earlier this week. This, as part of a special initiative by the Ministry of Tourism and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA), designed to allow them to experience, close up, Israel’s unique beauty and heritage.
Among the ambassadors who took part in the tour of Tzippori National Park were the ambassadors of the countries: Sri Lanka, Colombia, Thailand, Nepal and Vietnam, as well as senior diplomats from El Salvador, Austria, Uruguay and Ukraine.
The tour was initiated by the Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Amir Halevi, and guided by Tzipori-born Etti Koriat Aharon, a longtime INPA employee in charge of information and community in the northern district and an expert in Tzipori's archeology. The group visited, among others, the Nile Festival House, the Roman villa with the beautiful mosaic floor of the Galilee, the Crusader castle and the remains of a synagogue from the Byzantine period. The diplomats ended the day with wine-tasting and lunch at the Kitron winery.
This tour was the first in a series of special tours organized by the Ministry of Tourism and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority for ambassadors. Subsequent tours are expected to take place in Caesarea National Park, the INPA Sea Turtle Rescue Center and the Apollonia National Park, with the participation, among others, of the ambassadors of Panama and Ireland and senior diplomats from Russia, Britain, Estonia, Latvia, the Netherlands and Canada.
According to Tourism Ministry Director-General Amir Halevi: “Having run a successful cycling project in which dozens of ambassadors from foreign countries enjoyed breath-taking routes around Israel, we decided to offer ambassadors to take advantage of this corona period and visit the national parks, in joint cooperation with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. To our delight, registration immediately filled up and the ambassadors were enthusiastic about discovering another piece of archaeology and history in the Galilee. Given the absence of advertising and marketing campaigns overseas featuring Israel’s unique sites as a result of the corona crisis, these ambassador tours provide another type of exposure to Israel among the diplomatic corps living in Israel."
According to Raya Shuraki, Director, INPA Public and Community Division: “The corona crisis is still ongoing and the tourism industry is currently based solely on domestic tourism. At the same time, it is important to look ahead and establish and cultivate contacts with key figures in other countries, such as ambassadors, with a view to leveraging incoming tourism when it will become possible. These tours are part of a welcome initiative designed to establish a fruitful relationship with the representatives of the various countries. They also serve to expose them to both the beauty and uniqueness of our nature and heritage sites as well as the tourist and recreation sites located near Israel Nature and Parks Authority sites.”
Photo Ministry of Tourism
