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- Written by Silvia Golan
On the occasion of the 58th Anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and the visit of H.E. Mr Istvan Jakab, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, and to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the reestablishment of the diplomatic relations between Hungary and the State of Israel, the Ambassador of Hungary H.E. Mr Andor Nagy and his wife Mariann Bercsenyi offered a reception on October 23rd at his residence in Hertzliya Pituach.
Israelies' guests of honor were the Israeli Minister of Finance and chairman of the Yesh Atid Party, Yair Lapid, from Hungarian origin, and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs , Yitzhak "Tzachi" Hanegbi.
The Hungarian and Israeli anthems were played for the occasion and afterwards the ambassador warmly welcome his guests and expressed: " It is my privilege to welcome three special guests at the same time in my residence. Two of them from Israel: the Minister of Finance and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament. from Hungary.
The fact that two VIP guests have participated at the National Day is a signal for me, that the 25 years anniversary of the reestablishment of the diplomatic relations between Israel and Hungary has great potential.
As ambassador I know very well that there is still a lot to do. I will do my best to build a bridge between the two peoples. "
Minister Lapid said: "On behalf of the Government and People of Israel, it is my pleasure to convey a message of friendship on the occasion of the Hungarian National Day. I am honored to welcome Mr. István Jakab, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, who has come to Israel as we celebrate 25 years of renewed diplomatic relations between our countries.
We appreciate the special program prepared by the Hungarian government to mark this occasion.
The relationship between Israel and Hungary is a complex one. Our past is full of turmoil but we also have much that binds us together. Our relations are based, among other things, on the recognition of the importance of the past.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Holocaust of the Hungarian Jewish community. The government of Hungary prepared a program of commemorative events, for which we are grateful.
Hungary of 1945 was complicit in the murder of its Jewish community both because of the support of Hungarian fascists and the inaction of too many others. The acceptance of that culpability, as echoed by Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Tibor Navracsics, at a conference on anti-Semitism in which I participated a year ago, allows us to build for the future.
Hungary did indeed fail its Jews 70 years ago, and the current government has a responsibility, which I believe it takes seriously, to ensure the words "Never Again" are translated into reality.
As you know, I am the son of a Hungarian Holocaust survivor and that dark period of history inevitably shapes my character and my perspective. It is one of the reasons I am personally troubled by rising anti-Semitism in Hungary.
We hope that the Hungarian government will continue to take determined action against any expression or manifestation of anti-Semitism and racism. The increasing number of anti-Semitic incidents and anti-Jewish hate speech, including within the Hungarian political system, must serve as a warning for us all.
Racial incitement from a podium is always translated into violent acts on the streets.
I know that those incidents do not reflect the majority of Hungarians but if we learn one lesson from those terrible events 70 years ago let it be this; we must all stand against racism and discrimination and never allow hatred to go unchallenged. I know this is a view shared by our friends in the Hungarian government.
Just as we must not and should not forget the dark moments we also recall that Hungary was the first country from the Communist bloc to renew relations with Israel.
We look with pride at the large and vibrant Jewish community in Hungary today and the large number of Israelis of Hungarian descent who maintain a relationship with Hungary.
We can look back on the past 25 years with satisfaction for all we have achieved and look forward to continuing to forge ever-stronger relations between our two nations, and particularly among our young people.
Our governments are in regular contact and in the economic sphere bilateral trade reached $434 million last year and there remains untapped potential which can benefit both our countries.
Deputy Speaker Jakab, I know that agriculture is your area of expertise and as we look at the ties between our two countries I hope your visit can help to broaden and strengthen our cooperation in that field.
Mr. Ambassador, thank you for your hospitality.
Please convey our best wishes to the Government and People of Hungary on the occasion of your National Day. We wish Hungary peace and prosperity. May the bonds of friendship between our two nations continue to flourish in the years to come. Gratulálok.
Thank you"
After Mr. Lapid's speech, Mr. István Jakab said amongst other things:
" Hungary, a country where Europe's 4th largest Jewish Community lives in. " ..." In his Capital, Budapest, there is the world second largest synagogue in Europe .A country where Estee Lauder, Elena Rubinstein, Judith Muller and the father of the Zionism, Theodor Herzl were born. A country where in 1848-1849 our Jewish compatriots fought for Hungary's liberty ....."
" This year, in 2014 we are remembering the Hungarian victims of the Shoa or the Holocaust ." .... " Anti-semitic statements are still heard in Hungary "....But Victor Orban's government , does not tolerate this: we have zero tolerance, and we are taking tough action against this. "
We would like to stress that typical Hungarian wine and food delighted the guests, among them Hungarian beef stew and Hortobagy Pancakes.
It was a pleasant event that counted with guests from different foreign diplomatic services as well as delegates from the Israeli political and economic branches.
Photos : Silvia G. Golan
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- Written by Silvia Golan
On October 23th, 2014, the German ambassador to Israel, Mr. Andreas Michaelis and his wife Mrs. Heike Michaelis, offered a reception at their residence in Hertzlia Pituach to celebrate the German Day of Unity as well as 50 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel.
The German Ambassador, Mr. H.E. Andreas Michaelis, welcomed the honorable guest President of the State of Israel, Mr. Reuven Rivlin, amongst members of different diplomatic missions in Israel and other distinguished guests.
Wording of the speech gave by the Ambassador Michaelis:
"The National Day of Germany commemorates Germany's reunification. This year, it has been 25 years since the fall of the wall.
I find it difficult to believe that 25 years have already passed since this historic date. Like many Germans I can vividly remember the scenes of joy which marked the days when freedom became a reality for us. It feels like it happened yesterday."
Referring to the State of Israel : " Israel needs a stable and peaceful environment. It is totally unacceptable that this country has repeatedly become the victim of rocket and terror attacks. We should not witness another Gaza War or new confrontations on Israel's borders. We have to break this cycle of violence.
Germany has pledged to do its part to ensure that Israel will be able to live in peace and security. This is and remains one of the central pillars of German policy. The events that led to the reunification of Germany and Europe show us that we can succeed even when faced with the greatest obstacles – and again, we see in the Middle East of today a different political reality than in Europe. However, obstacles can be overcome if we act together, show courage and seize the moment. An increasingly difficult environment in the Middle East is not a reason to shy away from diplomacy. On the contrary, it is a reason to double our efforts."
"Israel and Germany are two countries that have become very close partners today. We cooperate in a wide range of fields – in science and culture, business and technology as well as in security and diplomacy. Many Israelis and Germans developed strong personal ties through this cooperation, through city twinning and youth exchanges. Many friendships developed. We will soon look back on 50 years of diplomatic relations between our two states.
Has there ever been a more impossible relationship between two countries? At the beginning it was not at all clear that there could ever be a formal relationship between the young Jewish state and the nation which - at the lowest point of its history - had attempted to eradicate all Jewish life and murdered 6 million Jews. At the beginning there was so much pain and suffering. And let us not get this wrong, there still is today. The memory of the Holocaust and its deep scars are not washed away by history. Only if we fully comprehend and respect this dimension of our relationship, will we succeed in further developing it. What I experience as real friendship and trust between us today would not exist if we had not travelled the long and difficult path of serious and sometimes painful dialogue between our countries and people."
The bilateral relationship between Israel and Germany has reached an unprecedented quality. And we will continue to further broaden and deepen it in the years to come. This is why our two governments together with a vast range of members of our civil societies have agreed to use the coming year to put a special focus on cooperation in all relevant sectors of our relationship. In the course of next year we will experience a large array of events and projects, both, in Germany and Israel – ranging from classical music to Jazz, from cinema, theatre and contemporary dance to literature and art exhibitions. In short: we will celebrate. But we will also engage in programmes and projects which focus on the political realities in our two countries. Furthermore, in important sectors like, for instance, science and business we will try to push for new forms of cooperation. In short: We will not just look back on 50 years, we will look ahead at the next 50 years."
"Today, we will launch a joint website with an event calendar. It will provide all relevant information :
The ambassador also informed about more than a hundred events and encounters that were organized to celebrate the 50 years of bilateral relations (www.il50de.org). The German Foreign Office, the Goethe Institute and the Robert Bosch Foundation gave their support to the complexion of the events.
A German-Israeli common logo was launched a few months ago to signalize 50 years of renewed diplomatic relations between our countries.
In his speech, President Rivlin said : "Germany is acting to support Israel's ability to protect itself, and its leaders understand that terror organizations cannot run the world. They understand the problems which arise when a state must stand up and fight against terror organizations."
"This day celebrates new beginnings. It is a day that has meaning for all people who seek to find common ground where there is division. This day is about the will of people to break down barriers, and learn to live side by side, not divided by walls, neither physical nor virtual.
"We have learned from history and at a terrible price. It is important we continue to teach this lesson, educating about the Holocaust, and the dangers of racism and anti-Semitism. In West Germany, in East Germany, in a united Germany, in Europe, and all over.
The president emphasize the excellent relationship and friendship between our two countries. " You are great supporters of the efforts to find confidence building measures between the peoples of the Middle East."
"Germany is acting to support Israel's ability to protect itself, and its leaders understand that terror organizations cannot run the world. They understand the problems which arise when a state must stand up and fight against terror organizations."
"Israel needs a stable and peaceful environment. It is totally unacceptable that this country has repeatedly become the victim of rocket and terror attacks. We should not witness another Gaza War or new confrontations on Israel's borders. We have to break this cycle of violence."
He concluded, "Germany has pledged to do its part to ensure that Israel will be able to live in peace and security. This is and remains one of the central pillars of German policy."
Photo Mark Neiman / GPO
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- Written by David Parsons in Jerusalem Post
When thousands of Christians showed up in Jerusalem this week for the annual Christian celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, it was an encouraging sign that not only is tourism on the rebound after this summer's conflict in Gaza, but also that Israel truly has committed Christian friends around the globe. The Sukkot gathering hosted by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem drew more than 5,000 Christians from over 80 nations, the best turnout in seven years - which is quite remarkable given that rockets were still falling all around Israel just a few short weeks ago.
There was a wonderful excitement as these Christians interacted with Israelis this week. At the grassroots level, our throngs of pilgrims were warmly welcomed by local residents in the traditional Jerusalem March and that evening we hosted nearly 2,000 Israeli guests, including 300 IDF soldiers, at the brand new Jerusalem Pais Arena for a gala Sukkot celebration.
On more formal levels, the modern-day saga of strong Israeli-Christian relations hit a milestone moment when Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, representing the people of Israel, and World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder, representing the Jewish people abroad, both addressed our Feast event, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a videotaped greeting. The vast audience from the nations included 30 cabinet ministers and parliamentarians from 20 nations - all Christian supporters of Israel.
President Rivlin thanked the Feast attendees for their support of the Jewish state, saying that the connection of Zionism to the Christian community had "deep historical roots."
"Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your dedication. Thank you for your consistent trust and support," President Rivlin told the visitors. "We appreciate you, lovers of Israel and Jerusalem, for taking part in the joy of this holiday."
In his remarks, Lauder stressed that Jewish-Christian friendship is also becoming something of a necessity in the light of the common threat we face from radical Islamist regimes and terror militias - a peril that is especially acute at present for Middle East Christians.
"I am now convinced more than ever that we must join forces," Lauder insisted. "A Jewish-Christian coalition makes complete sense. Together, Christians and Jews must speak as one and tell the world, no more discrimination, no more terror, no more death and no more silence!"
Lauder also warned of growing anti-Semitism in the world, saying "the same people who go after us are also going after you. That is why Christians and Jews must join forces and act together."
"Thank you, my Christian brothers and sisters, for standing with Israel through this very difficult year," added Lauder. "Israel has no better friends in the world than you. We know that you have watched out for us, and we will always watch out for you."
While enjoying a joyous festival in Jerusalem, the Feast pilgrims also were keenly aware that not so far away an unspeakable evil has been stalking many of our Christian brothers and sisters in the region. The rampage of ISIS across Iraq and Syria has wrought inhuman carnage over recent months that is now testing the moral fiber of world leaders.
Amid the heated debate over whether Western air strikes are enough or will 'boots on the ground' be necessary to stop this menace, the ICEJ leadership joined with President Lauder of the World Jewish Congress and Dr. Billy Wilson of the Empowered21 global Evangelical movement this week in demanding that world leaders urgently act to halt the persecution of Middle East Christians.
It has been interesting to watch the debate over Western military action against ISIS. The Obama administration in particular justified the launch of an air campaign in Iraq in order to save members of the Yazidi minority trapped on a barren mountain in northern Iraq - and rightly so! Other nations have joined the expanding coalition based on the added concern that this brand of unbridled terror could soon reach their shores. Perhaps a distant third, if mentioned at all, was the need to defend the ancient and vulnerable Christian communities of Iraq and Syria.
Such lack of genuine concern for Christian victims of Islamic persecution is nothing new. When Arab Muslim militiamen in Sudan began slaughtering thousands of black African Muslims in Darfur, politicians, rock stars and Hollywood icons all jumped on the Darfur bandwagon - and rightly so!
Yet where were all these voices of virtue when the Khartoum regime was carrying out the much longer and bloodier genocide and ethnic-cleansing campaign against Christians in southern Sudan!? Over a 30-year period, the Islamists in power in Khartoum massacred more than two million Sudanese Christians and displaced over four million more. The response was largely silence. Manute Bol's long, lonely protest vigil on Embassy Row in Washington just could not compete with the star power of George Clooney.
Back at this week's Feast gathering in Jerusalem, there were several blunt reminders of the current plight facing Middle East Christians. One Feast volunteer, a doctor who has undertaken several recent medical relief missions to Syria, was forced to eyewitness the beheading of Christian men, women and children. Canon Andrew White, the Anglican 'Vicar of Baghdad,' moved the audience deeply with his first-hand accounts of Christian churches and villages being decimated.
And to top it off, the Feast also hosted the 45 soldiers of the Fiji Battalion serving as UN observers on the Golan who were held hostage by the al-Nusra Front rebel militia in Syria last month. Their ordeal ended miraculously well compared to other hostages of jihadist groups these days, but what if their captors had known these were Christians who love Israel.
So Ron Lauder is right - a Jewish-Christian coalition is truly needed. And the synergy witnessed between our communities this Sukkot here in Jerusalem shows that it is alive and strengthening.
The writer is media director for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem; www.icej.org
Photos : Silvia Golan / Daniel Schwarz
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- Written by Silvia Golan & Jonathan Danilowitz
China: 1.3 billion people. Israel: 8 million.
We think all 8 million Israelis would have liked to have attended the event at the prestigious Tel Aviv Hilton Grand Ballroom last Tuesday evening to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. Graciously hosted by Her Excellency Madame Gao Yanping, China's ambassador to Israel, and the Chinese Embassy, the guest list was a veritable who's-who of Israeli society. Foreign and local diplomats mingled with parliamentarians of all stripes, with leaders of Israel's commercial and business community, the arts, sport and many other VIPs and leaders of Israeli and Chinese society.
Guest of honor – and it is indeed an honor to China and to Israel – was President Reuven (Rubi) Rivlin and his charming wife First Lady Mrs. Nechama Rivlin. Other notable guests included the leader of the opposition Mr. Yitzhak (Boezi) Herzog, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Tzachi Hanegbi, former minister Ran Cohen, Attorney General Mr. Yehuda Weinstein, former minister Ehud Barak, and first lady of the Israeli theater, Gila Almagor with her husband, theater impresario Yaakov Agmon. Also present were several young Chinese exchange students studying at Israeli Universities. The youth of China's tomorrow are gaining their education at Israel's higher-learning establishments – a fine compliment to both.
The Master of Ceremonies briefly welcomed the guests and orchestrated the singing of the national anthems of the People's Republic of China and of the State of Israel. He then introduced the Chinese ambassador, who addressed the assembly.
Madame Yanping opened with a warm welcome to the State President and his wife, stressing how honored she felt by their presence. Her Excellency used several words in Hebrew, which added to the warmth of her welcome. She continued with an enlightening review of China's successes over the past 65 years, and of the close relationship mighty China has with tiny (but mighty in its own way) Israel. "China is now the world's second largest economy, and an important contributor to the world growth and prosperity, which contributes almost 30% to the world economic growth. Since the entry into the WTO in 2001, China has imported goods worth $750 billion annually, and created more than 14 million jobs for the global economy. ... Almost 100 million outbound visits were made by the Chinese tourists. In the coming five years, ... Chinese visitors abroad will be 500 million, 60 times Israel's population".
The Ambassador spoke enthusiastically of China's hopes and plans for the future too, stressing that China is resolute in pursuing a more proactive strategy of opening-up. "We will focus on stabilizing exports and actively expanding imports. ... China is resolute in following the path of peaceful development [and] is fully aware of its responsibilities and expectations from the international community. We will play our due role to establish a new type of international relations based on win-win cooperation and provide more public goods to the world. We will play a more proactive and constructive role in addressing international and regional hotspot issues to promote peace, security and stability". Madame Ambassador spoke of China's present aid in the Ebola crisis in West Africa, and mentioned that China is now Israel's third-largest trading partner. "I have great confidence in the future of China-Israel relations. I hope we could seize the good opportunities of the Chinese Dream and make it into our common dream. I firmly believe that China and Israel will continue to make joint and persistent efforts to enhance our mutual respect and trust, explore the great potential of cooperation. The future of our relations will be full of opportunities and excitement".
She ended her address by proposing a toast:
"To the 65th National Day of the People's Republic of China,
To the peace and prosperity of China and Israel,
To the friendship between our two peoples"
And again thanked all the guests for attending the reception.
In his response, the State President offered sincere congratulations to the Ambassador and to the People's Republic of China, and with a smile mentioned that Israel is one year senior to China. "Both our peoples have rich and ancient histories and place much importance on values. And today, there is no doubt that we have a shared future and much to gain from our good relations."
A pre-recorded video by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was screened to the audience, where the PM also expressed his admiration for China and expressed his good wishes to that country.
A lavish buffet dinner featuring both Chinese and western dishes followed. At the same time guests were entertained by professional folk ensemble from China, performing a series of dances accompanied by folk music. Carefully choreographed and highly colorful, the dancers moved with breathtaking grace and style. Just the names of the selections gives an idea of the beauty, including: "Blooming Flowers & Full Moon, "Spring Rain", "Peony Pavilion" (A Stroll in the Garden) and "The Peacock's Flight". The final performance was a martial arts exhibition/dance that included a joint presentation by performers from the Wushu Association of Peking University (University of Beijing) and the Israeli Wushu Team from Rehovot. The presentation also included participants from the Confucius Institute in Jerusalem.
China and Israel – a winning combination.
Photos Silvia Golan
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- Written by Silvia G Golan
To commemorate the Day of the Hispanic Heritage, the Ambassador of Spain in Israel, Mr. Fernando Carderera and his wife Victoria, offered a reception at their residence in Herzlia Pituach.
Numerous ambassadors of foreign countries and diplomats , representatives of the Israeli army and attachés of various embassies attended the event , as well as delegates of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, directors of the Chamber of Commerce and of the Association of Friends Israel - Spain and representatives of various political and commercial sectors. Among the guests we could see the businessman Gad Propper, Prof. Aviva Doron and journalist Henrique Cymermann.
Typical Spanish tapas were served during the event, amongst them the tortilla, ham, cheese and chicken balls, all these were accompanied by excellent Spanish wines and Cava.
Separately, in the terrace located on the first floor was served kosher food that included some specialties prepared for the event.
The Ambassador addressed the guests announcing that his speech would be short this year in order to have the opportunity to show a video about Spain. After the video, the national anthems of Israel and Spain were sung.
The Ambassador continued his speech stressing that "Spain is a key country in the history of Judaism. Our relations are bound to be both complex and intense, because so was our history. The Ambassador stressed in Hebrew and afterwards in English and Spanish: "we are proud of our common culture, our similar origins and the shared heritage of Sepharad. That's why we want to strengthen the ties in the fields of culture, education, science, new technologies and research, trade and investment.
There is a growing presence of Spanish companies in Israel. Valoriza is about to finish a desalination plant in Ashdod. Abengoa is building solar power plants. Telefónica has its own subsidiary in Israel, Unión Fenosa Gas is interested in buying gas from Tamar and several Spanish companies would like to participate in the preparations of the project for national infrastructure.
The recession has ended and the Spanish economy is growing again with an increasing GDP above the average growth in the euro zone. The new standard in the Spanish economy is based on competitiveness and the external sector acting as an engine of growth. As a result, confidence in the Spanish economy has been restored with a very important reduction in our risk premium. Unemployment remains too high and we need to reduce the national debt, but Spain has a diversified economy, skilled job employees and very strong companies.
Spanish companies are world leaders in key sectors such as renewable energy, management infrastructure and construction, ICT, high-speed railways, financial services, biotechnology, naval technology, environmental technology and space and aerial systems, among others".
Again, the Ambassador stressed in Hebrew and in English: "we want to use all these potentialities to do business with Israel and cooperate with you in all possible sectors.
We share your mourning for the casualties and the injured during operation "Protective Edge".
My country has heavily invested in joining international efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East. We fully support the effective guarantees for the security of Israel, and we are committed to a two-State solution, through direct negotiations, including the creation of a viable Palestinian State that recognizes Israel."
Before concluding, he expressed his thanks to the sponsors: Valoriza Agua, Freixenet and the Spanish Ministry of Defence. to his wife, and to all the employees at the Embassy.
He also commented on the food offered at the event: Spanish tapas, including an excellent ham and cheese brought from Spain specially for the occasion, and a kosher area, and not less the Spanish wine and Cava. He invited the Minister and the rest of the guests to join in a toast wishing a long life and well-being to both heads of State, his Excellency the President Reuven Rivlin and his Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain, as well as for the mutual friendship.
Afterwards, expressed the representative of the Israeli Government, Minister for matters relating to the 3rd age, Ori Orbach: "Economic cooperation, with particular emphasis on research and development, is one of the most important interfaces between the peoples of Spain and Israel. Both countries have common interests in areas of global importance, such as renewable energy and the use of natural resources. Our two vibrant nations are blessed with a large young population highly skilled, creative and innovative. In concrete terms, this means that in the coming years we will see an intensified cooperation and a relationship increasingly strong on the economy, the...... and technology.
Spain and Israel also are reaping the benefits of their joint efforts to enhance bilateral cultural relations, which draw even more closer our two peoples. We have opened new paths, the Israeli arts, music, cinema and dance have won recognition all over Spain. This year Israel was invited to participate in the Barcelona Design Fair, where thousands of visitors had the opportunity to see the capabilities of Israel in this field. This month, an exhibition by the outstanding Israeli artist Sigalit Landau, will be inaugurated in Spain, and about two weeks ago the famous Spanish dancer and choreographer José Porcel and his company presented his show at the Suzanne Dellal Centre in Tel Aviv. These are just a few typical examples of uninterrupted cultural activity".
He jokingly commented on an incident about the naming of a street in the northern part of Israel, where the name of Yehuda Levi was to be removed in order to name the street after the father of a former local mayor. The problem was finally resolved by replacing part of the ¨Hashalom¨ street (The Peace) by that of the Spanish Rabbi Yehuda Levi, since this combination of both seemed to be the most appropriate.
After this the Minister continued his speech by expressing the following : "the time is too short to address the broad spectrum of cultural ties that go much further back in history, when the Jewish culture was an integral part of Spanish culture. Each of our peoples left one decisive mark over the other during the golden age, and we are now enjoying the products of cultural diversity of both Nations. Israel and Spain have many shared values and have come a long way together to promote peace in the Middle East. Let me state that the former Spanish Foreign Minister was one of the first leaders to declare publicly in the UN General Assembly that Israel has the right to live in security and supported the idea of a two State solution. Israel regards Spain as an important ally and an ideological partner in many fields. Israel also publicly supports the candidacy of Spain to occupy a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in 2015-2016.
Unfortunately, both Israel and Spain, have been and continue to be victims of jihadist terrorism, and our cooperation in this area is more essential than ever. We hope that the visit of the Spanish Minister of Defence will be materialized soon, and we truly believe that it will contribute to the strengthening of ties between our two countries in this field. Similarly, we expect the visit of the Spanish Interior Minister, which is scheduled to lead a business delegation to an international exhibition about "National Security" that will take place within the next two months. Israel, Spain and the Western world are facing multiple and formidable challenges, and only by force of union we will be able to succeed and ensure a better future for the young generations on our two countries.
Spain and Israel are located on opposite sides of the Mediterranean See, and they are the only Western democracies that have land borders with Africa. Over the centuries, these geographic facts have created many similarities in both populations and give rise to common interests in fields such as the struggle against terrorism, trafficking of persons and dealing with illegal immigration. These issues also make it imperative for us to strengthen our professional cooperation in order to obtain solutions that ensure our future and the future of the generations to come.
The solid friendship between our peoples and nations means that we need to tackle difficult and even painful topics with honesty. We are fully convinced that the Spanish leaders, struggling against racism, will clearly and unequivocally condemn the recent anti-Semitic manifestations that we witnessed during the operation "Protective Edge" , when, unfortunately, the Spanish public received a distorted image of the events in Gaza. These are the currents of events that have circulated throughout Europe, and only a very strong public stand against them and a decisive action against their perpetrators may neutralize this fact.
This year, the Spanish national holiday falls on the Jewish holidays of Sukkot, also known as the Feast of the Harvest, one of the oldest festivals in Judaic history. It is a festival that marks the end of the agricultural cycle and the hope for rain that will lead to additional seasons of abundance".
The Minister concluded his speech by wishing the citizens and the Government of Spain many years of prosperity and expressed the sincere wish that relations between the two countries be also blessed with abundance, that both countries will be able to enjoy the privilege of tasting the sweet fruits of bi-national cooperation and a strong friendship between their peoples. And that they be blessed with years of peace.
Photo Silvia Golan
