-
Home
- Diplomatic Events
Diplomatic Events
- Details
- 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 & 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
- Details
- 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
- 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
- Details
- 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
