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The embassies of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras held an historic celebration online in honor of the bicentennial of Central American independence--marking 200 years since the act of independence of Central America in 1821.
The Zoom celebration began with the national anthems of the Central American nations, as well as of Israel. The ambassador of Honduras in Israel, H.E. Mr. Mario Castillo, then presented remarks on behalf of the host countries. The ambassador spoke about the common threads tying together the people and nations of central america--not just a shared history, but also a deep regional cooperation that has benefitted all the nations of Central America, as well as a common policy of collaboration with other nations.
The ambassador thanked the people of Israel for the strong friendship over the years. In particular, he cited the extremely successful Mashav program for training thousands of Central Americans, humanitarian assistance during natural disasters, as well as the recent “Brothers in Arms” campaign to provide assistance in securing vaccination. Ambassador Castillo also thanked the Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemet Le’Israel for helping organize the virtual bicentennial celebration, and closed by wishing prosperity for both nations, and expressing hope that circumstances would allow Israeli government representatives to visit Central America in the near future.
Mr. Hernan Feldman spoke on behalf of the Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemet Le’Israel (JNF-KKL). Offering his remarks in Spanish, Mr. Feldman said that he was honored to be representing the JNF, and wished congratulations to all of the countries celebrating. The Ambassador of Guatemala, Mrs. Julissa Anzueto, then presented an award of appreciation to Mr. Feldman, in gratitude for his work connecting the Central American nations with Israel.
A video was then shown highlighting the work done by JNF-KKL in Central America. Following the highlight film, there was a stirring musical interlude, with Israeli musician playing a special Central American instrument in a medley that delighted the audience.
Finally, the President of Israel, Mr. Isaac Herzog, spoke, on behalf of the government and people of Israel. President Herzog praised the warm friendship between Israel and the Central American states, noting the beauty of the region and its appeal for Israeli tourists. On this important bicentennial, the president offered best wishes for continued success and growth in bilateral relations and cooperation going forward.
Participants included : Ambassador Gil Haskel, Chief of State Protocol of Israel; Ambassador Jonathan Peled, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Hernán Feldman, Vice President of KKL; Ambassador of Zambia Martin Mwanambale, Dean of the of the Ambassadors Corps accredited Israel; Ambassador of Honduras Mario Castillo ; Ambassador of Guatemala Julissa Ansueto, Ambassador of El Salvador Hector Celarie, and Charge of Affaire a.i. from Costa Rica, Mr. Javier Rojas; Minister Miguel Muñoz, Head of Cooperation of the Embassy of Honduras ; Members of the Knesset, Israeli government officials, ambassadors and diplomatic representatives, accredited to the State of Israel; Honorary Consuls, Military Attache from Honduras Gral. Macoto Vásquez, friends from Central America and more...
Diplomacy.co.il congratulates the Central American nations on the historic bicentennial celebration.
Steven Aiello
Photos credit Alex Kolomoisky
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The Embassy of Nepal held its National Day Celebration at the Ambassador’s residence in Herzliya on Monday evening, The festively lit garden was the stage for an important anniversary--the chance to celebrate 60 years of Israel-Nepal relations.
Guests were delighted to get a taste of Nepali culture, with traditional candles, music, and authentic Nepali dishes. The formal ceremony opened with the candle lighting
Nadav Ben Yehuda, Israel’s most accomplished high altitude mountaineer who serves as Honorary Public Relations Representative of the Nepal Tourism Board, opened the formal ceremony. Mr. Ben Yehuda pointed out that while it was Nepal’s National Day, it was not Independence Day, as Nepal is one of the rare countries to never have been colonized.
Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Arjun Ghimire then took the stage, delighting the guests by walking out singing to traditional Nepali music accompaniment. The national anthems of Nepal and Israel were played, followed by a traditional candle lighting ceremony.
H.E. Dr. Anjan Shakya, the ambassador of Nepal, began her speech with introductions in an impressively fluent Hebrew. The ambassador spoke about the connections between Israel and Nepal, from the lowest point on earth (Dead Sea) to the highest (Mount Everest). The ambassador highlighted the growth of bilateral cooperation in the areas of agriculture, labor, art, culture, education, business and more.
Ambassador Shakya said that with its focus on gender diversity, approximately 40% of Nepal’s political decision makers are female, making it one of the global leaders in that regard. It is also one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. With ten UNESCO world heritage sites, some of the largest mountains in the world, and best preserved natural areas, Nepal is “the perfect travel destination for a post-Covid vacation” according to the ambassador.
Knesset Member Michal Shir, chairwoman of the Israel-Nepal parliamentary friendship group spoke next, offering congratulations on 61 years of bilateral cooperation, blessings for a successful coming year, and a commitment that the cooperation between the countries would only continue to grow.
Minister Eli Avidar then offered remarks on behalf of the government and people of Israel. Mr. Avidar recalled that Nepal was the first South Asian country to recognize Israel, with then prime minister BP Koirala meeting Israel’s founding prime minister, David Ben Gurion, in 1960. Among the many areas of bilateral cooperation, the minister cited health, education, tourism, and security, “signs of the true friendship between our people.”
The minister also mentioned critical Mashav agricultural courses with thousands of graduates bringing knowledge and experience back to Nepal. Minister Avidar announced the plans to open a center in Nepal for bringing agricultural technological know-how from Israel to Nepal. Other important links between the countries that the minister mentioned include the many Israelis who choose Nepal as a travel destination, creating “social bridges,” and “friendships that last for generations”, Nepali caregivers providing services for the elderly in Israel, and the presence of troops from Nepal in regional UN peacekeeping missions UNIFIL and UNDOF. Following these remarks, a toast was raised to the success of Nepal and Israel.
In addition to the speeches, there were some memorable moments of recognition. First an award was given to Ms. Adina Gottesman, who served as Nepal’s honorary consul in Israel for 14 years, providing consular support to Israeli and Nepali citizens until the opening of the embassy of Nepal in Tel Aviv in 2007.
This event also served as the book launch for a special anthology overseen by the Embassy of Nepal in honor of the 60th anniversary of Israel-Nepal relations, with articles spanning from tourism to medical and humanitarian aid to Nepali soldiers who fought with the British Army in the region during World War I. Many of the contributing authors were in attendance for the occasion, and all guests received a copy of this unique Diamond Jubilee commemorative book.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance were Nepal’s first honorary consul Adina Gottesman; Honorary Consul Nimrod Berger; Ambassador Gil Haskel, head of protocol and former director of Mashav; Rafael Harpaz, deputy director general of the Asia Pacific department of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. David Freeman, Jerusalem Representative of the Baha'i community; Ambassador Yitzhak Eldan, president of the Ambassadors’ club; Dr. Michael Oren, former ambassador of Israel to the United States; Major General (Res) Matan Vilnai; Raviv Baron, President of the Israel-India & Nepal Chamber of Commerce; Anat Bernstein-Reich, Chairperson of the Israel-India & Nepal Chamber of Commerce, 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
Photos Silvia Golan
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President Isaac Herzog and the First Lady host their first annual Rosh HaShanah toast for the foreign diplomatic corps, call on the world to shun the Durban IV Conference: "surely another hate-fest full of antisemitism and Israel-bashing."
Thursday 2 September 2021 / 25 Elul 5781
In honor of Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog hosted their first annual toast at the President's Residence in Jerusalem for the foreign diplomatic corps stationed in Israel. The reception was attended by Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll, and the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Zambian ambassador Martin Mwanambale. In attendance were around 100 ambassadors, including the new envoys of Bahrain and Morocco, as well as representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Egypt and more.
Photo : Zambian ambassador Martin Mwanambale
During the ceremony, the diplomats were treated to a stunning rendition of "Hallelujah" in Arabic and English by the singer Valerie Hamati.
In his speech, President Herzog thanked the foreign diplomats for their work strengthening the ties of peace and friendship between Israel and their nations.
President Herzog called on the assembled ambassadors to join the nations that have already announced a boycott of the Durban IV Conference, which will mark the twentieth anniversary of the infamous Durban Conference of 2001, the U.N.-sponsored "World Conference Against Racism" that descended into manifestations of anti-Israel bigotry and antisemitism.
"Antisemitism is rearing its ugly head, and we find ourselves facing this ancient hate, which should itself have turned into a ‘fossilized relic’ long ago," said President Herzog. "Instead the United Nations is summoning another 'Durban conference' which will surely be another hate-fest full of antisemitism and Israel-bashing. I call on all your nations and governments to publicly denounce this conference and not participate in it."
President Herzog spoke of the urgency of international cooperation and diplomacy, especially in the context of the fight against climate change, and called for "courageous and sometimes painful steps to mitigate this danger with a universal, global approach."
President Herzog praised Arab-Israeli normalization accords and told the diplomats: "This is a paradigm shift that advocates of peace would be wise to leverage." He added: "A core theme of the Jewish New Year is the ability afforded to each of us to choose between good and evil, between a sweet new year—and a bitter one. In the coming year, the Middle East will face two these two alternatives, of good or evil. The first choice, represented by the courageous leaders of the countries of the Abraham Accords, is the path of peace, of people-to-people ties, and of cooperation. The State of Israel will always be a willing partner for all countries in the region that choose the path of peace.
"The second choice, that of evil, which continues to plague our region, is that of hatred, incitement, and terror. And the State of Israel will always stand firm against those in the region that choose the path of war."
Finally, in the spirit of Rosh HaShanah, President Herzog added: "On Rosh Hashanah, Jewish families around the world will recite a special blessing over a pomegranate, hoping that their good deeds may be as plentiful as the seeds of this fruit. If I might offer an Israeli variation on this theme—May the State of Israel and your countries find as many avenues for cooperation as the seeds of the pomegranate. May we find as many shared solutions for our challenges as the seeds of the pomegranate. And may our friendship remain as sweet as the apple we dip in honey."
Photos Silvia G. Golan
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Today,Thursday 14 September 2021 / 8 Tishrei 5781 , President Isaac Herzog receives the credentials of the new ambassadors of Bahrain, Mexico, Spain, Estonia, Greece, and Vatican City State
President Herzog to the ambassador of Bahrain: “Brave states take brave steps. The Abraham Accords were the fruit of both vision and power. The growing partnership between our countries is a model for the whole Middle East, and I hope that other states in our region will be inspired by your example.”
“At this point in time, as new, credible reports are coming in of Iran's progress toward nuclear weapons capacity, it is more important than ever to be united in our struggle against extremist forces working to undermine stability and peace in our region.”
Ambassador Khaled Yusuf Al Jalahama of Bahrain: “Peace is the strategic choice of the Kingdom of Bahrain… His Majesty the King believes that dialogue, understanding, and building confidence are lofty principles and main foundations for achieving cooperation between nations and peoples… I am confident that this historic step will lay a solid foundation for relations between our two countries, based on the values of tolerance and coexistence between peoples, beliefs, and religions.”
Today, President Isaac Herzog received the credentials of the new ambassadors of Mexico, Estonia, Spain, Greece, Vatican City State, and for the first time Bahrain, upon the assumption of their ambassadorial duties to Israel. The incoming ambassadors presented their letters of credence in formal ceremonies at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. The ambassadors were greeted by the IDF Orchestra playing their respective national anthems, and then proceeded to inspect the IDF honor guard. After presenting their letters of credence to President Herzog, the ambassadors signed the guest book of the President’s Residence, and at the end, the Israeli national anthem was played.
The accreditation of the ambassador of Bahrain comes on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords and the normalization of Bahrain-Israel relations. After the ceremony, President Herzog held a diplomatic working meeting with the new ambassador of Bahrain, H.E. Mr. Khaled Yusuf Al Jalahama, and they delivered joint statements to the press.
President Herzog: “The Abraham Accords were the fruit of both vision and power. The vision and power of states and national leaders. The growing partnership between our countries is a model for the whole Middle East, and I hope that other states in our region will be inspired by your example.”
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The first ambassador to present his letter of credence was the incoming ambassador of the United Mexican States, H.E. Mr. Mauricio Escanero Figueroa. The ambassador of Mexico presented President Herzog a formal invitation to visit Mexico in 2022 to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Israel-Mexico relations. President Herzog said that he hopes to meet Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador soon and invited him for a reciprocal visit in Israel. President Herzog and Ambassador Figueroa discussed opportunities to encourage trade between Israel and Mexico.
The second ambassador to present his letter of credence was H.E Mr. Veikko Kala, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia. President Herzog asked the ambassador to convey his congratulations to Estonian President-Elect Alar Karis on his recent election. President Herzog restated his expectation that Western nations boycott the upcoming Durban IV Conference. President Herzog and the Estonian ambassador discussed ways that Israel and Estonia can cooperate as two modern, highly digitized nations.
The third ambassador to present her letter of credence was H.E. Mrs. Ana María Salomón Pérez, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain. “Please send my warm regards to King Felipe,” said President Herzog at the beginning of the meeting. President Herzog and the Spanish ambassador discussed the rich common history shared by Spain and the Jewish people. The President hailed the strength of Israeli-Spanish relations and expressed hope to deepen cooperation, including at the level of the European Union.
The fourth ambassador to present his letter of credence was H.E. Mr. Kyriakos Loukakis, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic. President Herzog thanked the ambassador for President Katerina Sakellaropoulou’s invitation to visit Greece and said that he hopes to do so soon. Addressing the recent wildfires, President Herzog praised Israeli-Greek fire-fighting cooperation and said that both nations must work together to prepare for future ecological disasters. President Herzog stressed that Israel wishes to upgrade its relations with the European Union and asked Greece to assist in convening the EU-Israel Association Council.
The fifth ambassador to present his letter of credence was H.E. Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, Apostolic Nuncio of Vatican City State. President Herzog hailed the importance of Israel-Vatican ties and reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to freedom of worship and the protection of all holy sites in Israel. “Religions have been challenged in the modern era,” said President Herzog. “Religions enable families and societies to function better. When one looks at religion itself, it gives a sense of purpose.” President Herzog added that he has been following the speeches of Pope Francis with great interest, hailing him as a “very important voice.”
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Finally, H.E. Mr. Khaled Yusuf Al Jalahama presented his letter of credence to President Isaac Herzog as the first-ever ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the State of Israel. President Herzog and Ambassador Al Jalahama held a diplomatic working meeting, after which they made a joint statement to the press, in Hebrew and Arabic.
President Isaac Herzog thanked His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his ground-breaking decision to normalize relations with Israel and said: “The Abraham Accords were the fruit of both vision and power. The vision and power of states and national leaders. The growing partnership between our countries is a model for the entire Middle East, and I hope that other states in our region will be inspired by your example. Mr. Ambassador, please convey my warmest greetings and respect to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, whom I hope to meet during my presidency. *Bahrain has always served as a model and exemplar of coexistence between different religions and cultures. It is only natural that the name ‘Bahrain’ in Arabic, meaning ‘two seas,’ suits a country that forms a bridge between different nations and cultures, including a fascinating ancient Jewish community alongside Muslim, Christian, and other communities.”
President Herzog added: “At this point in time, as new, credible reports are coming in of Iran's progress toward nuclear weapons capacity, it is more important than ever to be united in our struggle against extremist forces working to undermine stability and peace in our region.”
President Herzog welcomed the ambassador and his wife to Israel and said that he hopes to attend the formal opening of the Bahraini Embassy in Israel.
Ambassador Khaled Yusuf Al Jalahama began by conveying to President Herzog the personal greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. “It is a great honor to be the first ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the State of Israel after the establishment of full diplomatic relations between our two countries,” he said, adding: “Peace is the strategic choice of the Kingdom of Bahrain… His Majesty the King believes that dialogue, understanding, and confidence-building are lofty principles and main foundations for achieving cooperation between nations and peoples… I am confident that this historic step will lay a solid foundation for relations between our two countries, based on the values of tolerance and coexistence between peoples, beliefs, and religions.”
The ambassador continued: “I wish the citizens of Israel health, well-being, security, stability, and prosperity. The Kingdom of Bahrain is guided in its diplomatic relations by solid national principles based on firm foundations and authentic values of prosperity and acceptance of the other… Throughout history, the Kingdom of Bahrain has committed in its relations with other states to promote stability, peace, and prosperity for the peoples of the region… In my role, and in cooperation with the Government of Israel, I shall strive to make our relations constructive and beneficial for both sides. I also expect, on a personal level, to develop relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Israel in various fields for the benefit of both states and their peoples, for the benefit of mutual assistance and strengthening security, stability, and development in our region.”
Ambassador Al Jalahama added in English: “These are not only brave and historic steps, these are giant steps into a future of peace, security, and prosperity for us all. I am confident that the Abraham Accords will forge a path and inspire all nations to strive for a better, more prosperous and secure world.”
Photos Silvia G. Golan
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Peru’s bicentennial celebrated at the Center of Art and Culture in Herzliya with gala party featuring traditional music and food
A historic celebration was held in Herzliya this week, as the Embassy of Peru in Israel marked the bicentennial--200 years of Peru’s independence. To celebrate the occasion, diplomats, civil society leaders, Peruvians living in Israel, and other friends of the embassy joined in a gala celebration at the TEO Center of Art and Culture in Herzliya, hosted by H.E. Mr. Carlos Chavez Taffur and his wife Mrs. Cynthia Hardman.
Ambassador Carlos Chavez-Taffur opened the evening with a note of gratitude for the measures taken by the government of Israel to protect the diplomatic community with vaccines, and that the Covid-19 situation has reached a point where such a celebration would be possible.
The ambassador noted the pivotal role of Peru in sparking freedom from colonialism in Latin America two centuries ago with the bold actions of national heroes like José de San Martín, and the impact on the region. The ambassador highlighted that foreign ministry of Peru has been active for nearly as long, founded less than a week after Peru’s initial declaration of independence in 1821.
The future brings both challenges and opportunities, and Ambassador Chavez once again thanked Israel for sharing best practices regarding Covid-19 vaccination, stressing that Peru has now applied “almost 12 million doses, with 4.5 million people already fully vaccinated. The outgoing government has acquired almost 90 million doses, which means that the vaccination of the entire Peruvian population has been ensured.”
Among the many examples of the strong and multifaceted ties between Israel and Peru, the ambassador mentioned the VI Peru-Israel Political Consultation Mechanism held virtually this year, as well as progress on numerous bilateral agreements including the Air Services Agreement, the Agreement on Security and Internal Order, the Agreement on Judicial Assistance, and the Agreement on Disaster Risk Management, academic and technological cooperation by universities and private businesses, and security coordination, such as the joint counterterrorism training program held this year in Lima with the Peruvian Army, and joint training in military epidemiological best practices.
In closing, the ambassador focused on the Peruvian expatriate community in Israel and their role in promoting relations between the two countries. In particular, he lauded the appointment of Dr. Judy Moriano as Peru’s Honorary Consul in Ramla. Dr. Moriano, who is the first foreign consular agent in the city of Ramla, will help provide services to the central and southern districts of Israel. With both Israel and Peru enjoying newly installed governments, the ambassador expressed optimism that the strong bilateral relations between the countries would only increase, as new avenues for cooperation are explored.
Israel’s Minister of Communications, Yoaz Hendel, spoke on behalf of the government of Israel. Minister Hendel began his remarks with several sentences of Spanish before switching to English. Noting that the Israeli connection to Peru dates back to Peru’s initial support for the creation of Israel under UNSCOP, the minister highlighted the long partnership under the auspices of the Mashav program, through which thousands of Peruvians received high quality technological training in Israel which they were then able to implement back in Peru.
Noting further that Peru is one of the founding members of the Pacific Alliance, Minister Hendel shared Israel’s pride in acting as an observer in the alliance, and aspirations to upgrade to being an "associated country" going forward.
Remarking on shared “fundamental values of democracy and the defense of human rights alongside a determined and unrelenting rejection of, and fight against, terrorism”, the minister also expressed Israel’s support for Peru's stance with regard to the situation in Venezuela, the "Lima Group" efforts directed at the harsh humanitarian situation in Venezuela. In closing, Minister Hendel offered the traditional Salud greetings and a toast was raised to health and prosperity in both countries.
Guests then enjoyed the celebration, with Peruvian cuisine, drinks and music. There was no lack of the traditional Pisco sour and chilcano cocktails, nor the Ceviche. The celebration was held in a unique outdoor space within the Center of Art and Culture, decorated with red and white floral arrangements in Peru’s national colors. Throughout the evening traditional Peruvian delicacies were enjoyed, while Peruvian music played. Scenic images highlighting Peru’s natural beauty were projected onto a wall, bringing the tastes, sounds and sights of Peru to Israel for this unique celebration.
Among the many distinguished guests in attendance were H.E. Mr. Gil Haskel, Chief of State Protocol at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Moshe Fadlon, Mayor of the city of Herzliya; Minister of Communications Yoaz Hendel; Ambassador Modi Ephraim, head of the Latin American and Caribbean desk of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Nadav Tamir, Director of International Affairs of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation; Monsignor Tomasz Grysa from the Apostolic Nunciature representing the Holy See in Israel; Father Armando Medina Vargas Domus Galilaece, Vice Director of the Monastery Korazin; Samuel Yecutieli, Representative of Venezuela in Israel; Prof. Ruth Fine Director of The Hebrew University of jerusalem - Faculty of Humanities - Department of Spanish and Latin America Studies; Patricia Ashkenazi Darwish representative of the IWO International Women Club - Spanish Committee; Itsik Kamilian, CEO of the Ambassadors Club; Gabriel Hayon- President of The Diplomatic Institute; Alberto Blank, Corporate Regional Director at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems; Karin Chen from the Israel Export Institute, Roni Kaplan, former IDF spokesperson in spanish , Gil Sztejman Member of the Beer Sheva City Council and wife, and many foreign Ambassadors, militars and business leaders.
The Staff of www.diplomacy.co.il congratulates the government, people, and Embassy of Peru on the occasion of the historic bicentenial.
Steven Aiello
Founder--DebateforPeace
Photos by Silvia Golan
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