Diplomatic Events

 

President Isaac Herzog received the credentials today of the new ambassadors of Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Uruguay and Portugal, in a series of official ceremonies at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

The incoming ambassadors were welcomed by the IDF Orchestra playing their respective national anthems and they inspected an IDF honor guard in the Ceremonial Plaza, after which they presented their letters of credence to the President in the Great Hall. The President held an audience with each ambassador, after which each ambassador signed the guest book. At the end of each ceremony, the Israeli national anthem was played.

The first ambassador to present his letters of credence to the President was the incoming Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. H.E. Menik Hitihamy Mudiyanselage Nimal Bandara. “The first visit of an Israeli president in Sri Lanka was made by my father, who met President Jayewardene in 1986,” said President Herzog. “My parents were very impressed with what they saw in Sri Lanka.”

 

 Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador, H.E. Ms. Maria Concepción Barahona Páez.

 

Next to present her credentials was incoming Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador, H.E. Ms. Maria Concepción Barahona Páez. “We are so happy that you’re here. Ecuador is a close friend of Israel. We hosted President Lasso just last year. It was a great honor for us, and I believe it dramatically strengthened our relations. So, welcome!”

 

Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala, H.E. Ava Atzum Arévalo de Moscoso

 

Following, the president received the credentials of Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala, H.E. Ava Atzum Arévalo de Moscoso, who, in her previous role, served as Deputy Foreign Minister of Guatemala. President Herzog welcomed her and said, “Welcome to Israel, Madam Ambassador. You represent one of the countries historically closest to Israel, from day one.” The incoming ambassador said: “We are celebrating 75 years of our diplomatic relations this year, and five years since our embassy moved to Jerusalem. Everyone in Guatemala loves Israel and it is an enormous privilege for me to represent my country here.”

 

 

Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Tesfaye Anteneh

 

Afterward, Ambassador of Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Tesfaye Anteneh presented his credentials to the president. The two discussed the importance of the relations between Ethiopia and Israel. “Mr. Ambassador, it is a great honor to receive your credentials,” said the president, especially given the close historic and sentimental ties between Israel and your country. We have an incredible Ethiopian community in Israel and are looking forward to strengthening our relationship as much as possible.”

The incoming ambassador added: “Ethiopia and Israel share long historic ties, which began with the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon 3,000 years ago. That is why the connection between our nations is so wonderful. I intend to focus on strengthening the bilateral ties between our nations during my time here. And I further came to study Israeli technology.”

 

 Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, H.E. Mr. Manuel Etchevarren Aguerre

  

After him, Ambassador of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, H.E. Mr. Manuel Etchevarren Aguerre presented his credentials to the president, who said: “We are delighted that you are here. We view Uruguay as a very close friend of Israel, and as an incredible country that is always with us.”

The ambassador thanked the president and said: “I think that the ties with Israel are very important. Israel has been a friend of ours from the beginning and to this day.”

 

  Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of the Portuguese Republic, H.E. Mr. Luís Filipe Ribeiro da Silva Barros

 

Finally, Ambassador of the Portuguese Republic, H.E. Mr. Luís Filipe Ribeiro da Silva Barros presented his credentials. The president opened his remarks by noting that it was a great honor for him to welcome the ambassador. He added: “Your country is a great friend of ours and the relations with Portugal are special to us. Please convey my warmest regards to your president, who is a wonderful person and dear friend. I wish you a meaningful service in Israel.” The ambassador thanked the president for his kind words and for the warm reception.

 

 

 

 

*President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog hosted a 75th Independence Day reception for the foreign diplomatic corps stationed in Israel*

 

_Wednesday, 26 April 2023 / 5 Iyar 5783_

 

In honor of Israel’s 75th Independence Day, President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog hosted a festive Independence Day reception for the foreign diplomatic corps at the President’s Residence today.

 

At the official reception in the President's Residence Gardens, the guests were treated to a selection of Israeli boutique wines, artisanal cheeses, fine chocolates, Made-in-Israel whiskeys, and scrumptious ice creams. The diplomats were also treated to musical performances by a 27-member ensemble of the Jerusalem Orchestra East & West, a multicultural orchestra comprising musicians from three religions, from all over the country and from all of Israel’s diverse groups, accompanied by artists Avraham De Carvalho and Israela Asago. 

 

The reception was attended by around 400 guests, including ambassadors, consuls-general, and military attachés from around 120 countries and organizations and the leaders of religious communities in Israel. Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen and his wife Mrs. Anat Cohen, Office of the President Director-General Eyal Shviki, MFA Director-General Ronen Levi, and other dignitaries also participated.

 

*President Isaac Herzog’s full remarks:*

 

It is a great pleasure for my wife Michal and me to welcome all of you to this reception at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, to celebrate together this historic milestone: Israel’s 75th Independence Day! 

 

The tradition of an Independence Day diplomatic reception began with Israel’s first President, Dr. Chaim Weizmann, who once said: “Miracles sometimes occur, but one has to work terribly hard for them.” Indeed, the modern State of Israel is a true miracle. And it is one that we have had to work terribly hard to achieve. When our founders declared the establishment of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948—a state founded on the prophetic visions of a world of freedom, justice and peace—many believed that the newborn country would not survive. Few would have predicted the course of our improbable story. Today, we are a country on the front lines of the efforts to make it a better world for us all, in the spirit of our founding vision. 

 

We are at the forefront of innovation in medicine, science, technology and sustainability; improving children’s health and access to clean water in developing countries; enhancing food security in arid regions; and helping to combat climate change and cyber threats across the globe, amongst so many other contributions across so many fields. 

 

None of this is a given. The freedom afforded by independence is also an initiation into awesome responsibility. And our work is not over. It is ongoing. Our independence, and the democratic pillars on which it rests, must never be taken for granted and must always be defended. Of course, debate and disagreement in a democracy are not only natural. They are critical. And the fact that, as we mark 75, Israelis are fiercely debating fundamental questions about our system of checks and balances demonstrates that our democratic discourse is vibrant and that our citizens are fully engaged. This, too, is a mark of pride. Even as it demands of us to show up for the difficult work of hearing and listening to each other. And recognizing that there exists a multitude of opinions in our society.

 

As President, I have been working around the clock to facilitate dialogue that can help us reach broad national consensus on these critical questions. I am driven by the firm belief that with goodwill and a willingness to engage in honest dialogue, our democracy can emerge from this reckoning stronger than ever.

 

Born amidst conflict and war, Israel has grown to see remarkable peace spread throughout this region. Beginning with our trailblazing partners, Egypt and Jordan, this voice for peace has continually grown louder.  Normalization has spread throughout our region, with the Abraham Accords with the UAE and Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan, which are driving widening circles of prosperity and progress. This new reality is already improving lives and enhancing prosperity across the region, opening up endless new possibilities in the realms of trade, technology, energy and security. But it has also offered something more essential, at this very critical crossroads for humanity. It has offered a new paradigm of cooperation. It has offered evidence that we can harness the best of what each of us has, to everyone’s benefit. And it has reminded all of us in the Middle East that we share a neighborhood and a future. That we have so much to gain from jointly approaching the challenges we all face. 

 

Therefore, the choice for peace may be one that we are asked to make again and again. And it is upon us to keep making it. Especially when Iran and its proxies in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon—Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad—have, in recent weeks, sought to capitalize on Israel’s domestic debate, misreading the vitality of our internal democratic discourse as a weakness; as an opening to wreak havoc. Throughout the month of Ramadan, a time of sacredness and compassion for so many, they stained our beautiful landscape with destruction and violence, robbing the lives of innocent Israelis and tourists. We have made clear that we will always take every measure to protect our people. That we will fight to maintain stability while keeping our hand extended in peace to all nations in the region, including to our closest neighbors, the Palestinians. 

 

My friends, I invite all of you to be our partners, in the journey toward a better, safer, kinder Middle East. 

 

I share my personal gratitude with each and every one of you for your relationships with the Office of the President, for the dialogue, for the collaborations with your countries, and for the ongoing work with my staff and me. I especially want to thank my friend, Eli Cohen, our foreign minister, for his leadership, Ronen Levi, Director General of the Foreign Ministry, and all of the wonderful and talented people at Israel’s Foreign Ministry, who are working with us to strengthen Israel’s foreign relations. It is so important that our voice be heard in your capitals. Thank you once again. Happy Independence Day! Yom HaAtzmaut Sameach!

 

Photos Silvia Golan

 

 More Pics at Facebook Diplomacy Israel and Israel Diplo  /  Silvia G Golan 

 

 

 

The Baha’i International Community held its annual New Year celebration on Wednesday, March 22, in the presence of guests from all over the world, representing the diversity of the Baha’i community, and the many faiths in Israel. 

 

Nowruz--the ancient Persian New Year which marks the onset of Spring, is marked by hundreds of millions of people around the world, including 8 million Baha’i. This year’s celebration was notable in that Nowruz also coincided with the onset of the Muslim month of Ramadan, and the beginning of the Jewish month of Nissan. The Baha’i international Secretariat, headquartered in Israel, gathered together at the David Citadel hotel in Jerusalem for a celebration highlighting hope, optimism, and unity. A giant photo of the world-renowned Baha’i gardens in Haifa, with two exquisite arrays of plants and flowers flanking the photo, gave the guests a taste of the stunning beauty of the gardens, and added the vibrant colors of spring to the celebration. 

 

The evening was opened by Mrs.Tjeriya Tjitendero, Head of Programming, and master of ceremony, followed by a presentation of the Baha'i International Secretariat, Dr. David Rutstein, introducing the Baha’i representatives from all over the world. A similarly diverse musical group composed of Baha’i members performed uplifting songs in English and Spanish.