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Israel and Japan take first steps toward free trade agreement
PM Lapid: This year, we are also celebrating 70 years of relations between our countries, and this is further proof of their growing strength - diplomatically and economically.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid this morning, (Tuesday, November 22) agreed to a first step toward the signing of a free trade agreement between Israel and Japan.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid:
"This morning in Tokyo, we agreed to take a first step toward the signing of a free trade agreement between Israel and Japan, which means discounts for products and goods from Japan for the benefit of the Israeli market and increasing Israeli exports to Japan, the third-largest economy in the world.
“This year, we are also celebrating 70 years of relations between our countries, and this is further proof of their growing strength - diplomatically and economically.
“This is an important achievement for Israel's economy and Israel's standing in the world."
“This is an important achievement for Israel's economy and Israel's standing in the world."
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- Written by Silvia G. Golan & Steven Aiello
The Turkish Embassy in Israel held a Republic Day reception on Monday evening in honor of the 99th anniversary of the declaration of Turkiye as a republic. This celebration was particularly meaningful coming on the heels of the long Covid-influenced hiatus, as well as signaling the strengthening of Israel-Turkiye bilateral relations.
The evening opened with the playing of the national anthems of Israel and Turkiye by a Turkish-Greek duet. A message from the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. President Erdoğan expressed gratitude to the friends of Turkiye celebrating the important milestone all around the world. The president offered prayers for those who died defending Turkiye throughout the years.
Listing Turkish successes in the last century, President Erdoğan noted that Turkish foreign policy aimed to advance justice, peace and stability in the world, and provides inspiration to people all around the world seeking to escape from oppression. From the war in Syria to addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Turkiye plays a key role in advancing peace and stability in the region.
President Erdoğan explained that Turkiye’s constant striving for success were responsible for things like the largest social housing project in Turkish history, which is set to accommodate 6 million Turkish people. The president stressed the forward thinking nature of Turkiye, with 2053 and 2071 goals, punctuated by the recent production of Turkiye’s first locally produced electric cars. Summing up the emotions of all those celebrating, President Erdoğan concluded with best wishes for health, serenity and well-being for the Republic of Turkiye and its citizens.
Mr. Mehmet F. Sekerci, the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Turkiye, welcomed all of the guests to the occasion on behalf of the embassy. Mr. Sekerci noted the incredible year of achievements in bilateral relations between Israel and Turkiye, including a historic visit by the President of Israel, Mr. Isaac Herzog, following an invitation from President Erdoğan, and the mutual visits of foreign ministers, a meeting between Prime Minister Lapid and President Erdoğan at the UN in NY, and further visits to Turkiye by the Minister of Economy, Minister Ornibai, and the Minister of Defense, Minister Gantz (the first visit by an Israeli defense minister to Turkiye in over a decade). Charge d’Affaires Sekerci explained that the proliferation of high-level visits are the product of the rapidly warming ties between the countries, to be completed with the pending assigning of ambassadors in the respective countries.
Mr. Sekerci noted that beyond the political relationship, Turkiye and Israel maintain robust economic and cultural connections, with Turkiye constituting the 5th largest trade partner for Israel, and Israel representing Turkiye’s 15th largest trade partner, with the total trade volume expected to reach 10 billion USD by the end of the year. Moreover, plans are underway to hold the fifth meeting of Turkish-Israeli joint economic activity, and resume high-level meetings to coordinate energy cooperation.
Turkiye remains a key tourist destination for many Israelis, ranking as the number one spot for flights out of Ben Gurion for three consecutive months, July-September, with an anticipated 750,000 Israelis visiting Turkiye in 2022. Mr. Sekerci concluded his remarks by thanking the Turkish Jewish community for its contributions to Israeli-Turkish relations, and inviting the guests to a photo exhibition entitled “Synagogues of Turkiye” to be opened on November 17 at the Saraya Turkish cultural center in Jaffa.
Minister of Communications, H.E. Mr. Yoaz Hendel, spoke on behalf of the Israeli government. Mr. Hendel expressed appreciation for Turkiye reaching 99 years as a republic, and enthusiasm for the warming ties between the two countries. Mr. Hendel noted the country’s historic ties, as Turkiye was the first Muslim-majority nation to recognize Israel when it was first founded. The minister expressed anticipation of further strengthening the ties between the countries in areas like agriculture, communications, health, tourism, and counterterrorism. The minister concluded his remarks with a toast together with Mr. Sekerci to the success of Turkiye and the flourishing friendship between the two nations. The guests then enjoyed dinner with authentic Doner and other Turkish delicacies.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance were the Minister of Communications, H.E. Mr. Yoaz Hendel; Ambassador Gil Haskel, Chief of State Protocol at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former director of Mashav; the honorary consul of Spain, Mr. Wadie Abu Nassar; the honorary consul of Kyrgyzstan, Mr. Dmitry Shkaf; Mr. Matan Safran, the Israeli Economic Attache to Turkiye; Zali de Toledo, former cultural attache of Israel to Turkiye; Amer Saleh, President of the Arab Chamber of Commerce; Georgina Litvak - Corporate Account Manager - Hilton Tel Aviv; Flying Carpet CEO Eyal Kashdan, Izi Madem - Associate and Ceo - Easy Travel LTD, members of the Turkish Jewish community, and numerous diplomats and civil society leaders.
Guests enjoyed the flavors of TurKish traditional cuisine like "Peynirli Boyitas' , "Kus Uzumlu Yaprak Sarma", " Pancor ve Enginarli Camambert Salatasi"
Delicious Ice Scream " Narli Magnum" , Halva " Irmik Helvasi" and " Efes" beer.
Diplomacy.co.il congratulates the embassy of Turkiye and the people of Turkiye on the 99 year anniversary.
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
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 Spokesperson of the President's Office
Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of Moldova, H.E. Mr. Alexandr Roitman
Monday, 31 October 2022 / 6 Cheshvan 5783
President Isaac Herzog received the credentials today of the new ambassadors of Moldova, Ghana, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Mongolia, and for the first time, Palau, in a series of official ceremonies at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. The incoming ambassadors were welcomed by the IDF Band 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 Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova, H.E. Mr. Alexandr Roitman. The President congratulated the Ambassador on his promotion from serving as Moldova’s chargé d’affaires in Israel and noted that Israel and Moldova are marking thirty years of diplomatic relations. Ambassador Roitman extended Moldovan President Maia Sandu’s personal regards to the President and an invitation to visit Moldova.
Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of Ghana, H.E. Ms. Lydia Ofosua Amartey
The second ambassador to present her letters of credence to the President was the Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Ms. Lydia Ofosua Amartey, previously Ghana’s deputy ambassador to Egypt. Ambassador Amartey extended the greetings of Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, whom the President met at Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in London. The President and the Ambassador discussed the potential for Ghanaian tourism and pilgrimages in Israel.
Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of Zimbabwe , H.E. Mr. Air Marshal (Rtd.) Shebba Shumbayawonda
The third ambassador to present his letters of credence to the President was the non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe, H.E. Mr. Air Marshal (Rtd.) Shebba Shumbayawonda, who has been serving as Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Egypt since 2019. The President expressed his hopes for the expansion of relations in various fields.
Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of New Zealand, H.E. Ms. Zoe Coulson-Sinclair
The fourth ambassador to present her letters of credence to the President was the non-resident Ambassador of New Zealand, H.E. Ms. Zoe Coulson-Sinclair, who is concurrently serving as New Zealand’s ambassador to Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Jordan. The President and the Ambassador discussed Māori history and culture, and the President noted that his late father, the Sixth President, Chaim Herzog, made the first state visit by an Israeli head of state to New Zealand. The President and the Ambassador discussed the importance of strengthening relations between Israel and New Zealand in a variety of fields, including the fight against the climate crisis and environmental conservation.
Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of Mongolia, H.E. Mr. Munkhbayar Gombosuren
The fifth ambassador to present his letters of credence to the President was the non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of Mongolia, H.E. Mr. Munkhbayar Gombosuren, a former Mayor of Ulaanbaatar and Mongolian minister of construction and urban development, who is concurrently serving as Mongolia’s ambassador to Türkiye and Azerbaijan. The President and the Ambassador discussed possibilities for Israeli-Mongolian cooperation on environmental issues, including forestation.
Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of Palau , H.E. Ms. Ilana Seid
The sixth and final ambassador to present her letters of credence to the President was the non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of Palau, H.E. Ms. Ilana Seid, Palau’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The President began by congratulating Ambassador Seid on making history as Palau’s first ambassador to the State of Israel. Ambassador Seid proudly told the President about her Jewish heritage as the granddaughter of a Jew from California who fought in the Canadian air force in the Second World War and later immigrated to Palau. The President thanked Palau for its international support for Israel, and they discussed ways for Israel to help Palau further in matters of agriculture, technology, and desalination. The President expressed concern about the impact of the climate crisis on Palau, including rising sea levels.
Photos: Kobi Gideon/GPO
- Details
- 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
