Diplomatic Events

 

The ambiance was vibrant with enthusiastic guests and the lobby decorated with Belgium's national colours against the backdrop of a large colourful screen.

 

Ms. Elka Pattyn, the Embassy's Political Counsellor was Master of Ceremonies welcoming everyone present. She mentioned that the choice of venue is a message coupled by the concept of peace which leads to understanding. 

 

Mr. Nadav Tamir, responsible for International Relations at the Peres Centre for Peace and Innovation apologised that the Centre's Chairman, Mr. Chemi Peres could not be present. He also thanked the Ambassador for hosting King's Day at the Centre. He added that Poppies Anemone, known in Israel as Kalaniyot, being Israel's national flower also was symbolic and relevant. 

 

Ms. Pattyn mentioned that it is man's moral responsibility to remember the past, she quoted World War 1 most known poem, "In Flanders Fields",  written by a Canadian surgeon, Lt. Col. John Mccrae. It was recited and accompanied by music played against the backdrop of a large screen displaying colourful images.  

 

The Kingdom of Belgium's Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Stefaan Thijs warmly welcomed all guests. We gather on this occasion because the 15th of November, Belgium celebrates King's Day. Belgium is a federal parliamentary, constitutional monarchy. King Phillipe joined the AirForce and qualified as a fighter pilot, he also completed commando and parachutist training. Today we mark the 11th of November which is Armistice Day, we pause to remember the end of World War 1, 107 years ago. For Europe and Belgium, peace was hard won as 15 - 20 million people lost their lives. The carnage and trauma became a symbol of humanity's madness. The fields around Ypres in West Flanders witnessed unimaginable suffering as it was the heart of the Western Front. The war's memory surrounded our childhood, rows of white gravestones scattered across the landscape. From those fields and through Mccrae's poem, the poppy became the enduring symbol of memory.  Since the 7th of October 2023 the People of Israel and the region have endured terrible suffering, atrocities, terrorism, warfare, loss and trauma and thousands have perished. I have seen the pain of Israeli families, the despair of the relatives of hostages and the desperate faces of children in Gaza. Since my arrival in July 2024, I have visited the Nova site several times. To my surprise I learned that poppies also grow in the Gaza envelope becoming a symbol of remembrance. That connection inspired tonight's event, a dark chapter of Belgium's history finding an echo in the pain of this region.

Belgium and Israel share more than one might surmise. Both are medium - sized nations of around 10 million people. Belgium's history shows that friendship alone is not enough. We learned that stability comes from embedding ourselves in rules-based international frameworks. After World War 11, Belgium became a champion of multilateralism and European integration. Today, Israel and the wider Middle East face similar crossroads - a chance for renewal from the rubble of conflict and hatred. What is needed is brave and visionary leadership that transforms military logic into sustainable diplomacy addressing the root of conflict and building structures of cooperation so that war becomes implausible. My heartfelt thanks to Chemi Peres and the entire team for welcoming us here. This Centre embodies the spirit of remembrance and renewal we wish to express this evening. I would like to express my gratitude to two world class artists and friends, Noa Achinoam Nini and Daniel Ost. Mr. Ost is Belgium's most renowned floral artist and a true ambassador of our country's creativity. He flew to Israel especially for this occasion. Daniel has transformed our shared vision into a living work of art. His installation centres on the poppy, linking the horrors of Flanders Fields to those of the Gaza envelope serving as a reminder that from devastation, beauty and meaning can emerge. My profound thanks to Noa Achinoam Nini, thank you dear Noa for so graciously agreeing to perform our anthems this evening. In conclusion I would like us to raise our glasses to His Majesty King Phillipe of Belgium and to the hope and future of this beautiful country and remarkable region, "Leve De Koning/Vive le Roi/Es Lebe des Konig".

 

Noa Achinoam Nini, spoke briefly quoting President Shimon Peres saying that "Optimists and Pessimists both die but live differently". Never has Israel suffered so much grief, through this grief we will grow and no longer be blind to others' pain.  She won the 2009 Eurovision with a song entitled "There Must Be Another Way" which she sang unaccompanied. Thereafter she sang the Kingdom of Belgium's national anthem, "La Brabanconne" followed by Israel's anthem, "Hatikva".

 

Ms. Adi Farjon Israel, Israel's Foreign Ministry's Director of the Central European Department spoke saying that it was a privilege to join the Embassy of Begium's King's Day celebratory reception, a day that symbolizes unity, continuity and national pride. For Israelis, the past two years have been marked by immense pain and resilience following the tragedy that occured on the 7th of October 2023. As in the red poppy becoming a symbol of remembrance, so too the flowers blooming in the kibbutzim in the Gaza envelope stand as a gentle and powerful reminder that from the soil of tragedy, beauty and resilience can emerge. We are elated that Daniel Ost has contributed to this celebration as flowers are a universal language of beauty, harmony and hope reminding us that in times of darkness, renewal and hope can follow. Culture can be a bridge between nations and thus it is painful when culture becomes a casualty of politics. We were saddened by the cancellation of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra's concert in Belgium because its conductor was an Israeli. The Belgian Prime Minister's attendance at the concert thereafter in Germany reflected a spirit of dialogue. We cannot ignore the rising expression of antisemitism, anti-Israel and attempts to delegitimize the State of Israel ubiquitous in Europe today.Belgium is home to a vibrant Jewish community and economic relations continue to thrive between Israel and Belgium. Let us focus on what unites us namely our shared democratic values, our belief in human dignity and our hope for a safer and better future.        

 

Daniel Ost's floral arrangement of red poppies on a mound of grass was unveiled which drew much attention.           

 

Belgium beer, soft drinks, chips, small buns with assado and a cabbage salad was served followed by chocolate desserts. 

 

Upon departure guests were presented with a small package of two artisanal chocolates called Dvir's Chocolate. The late Dvir Karp who in 1996 specialized in his profession as a chocolatier in Belgium was one of the first chocolatiers in Israel. On the 7th of October 2025, Dvir was murdered in his home in Kibbutz Re'im while protecting his children from terrorists who had entered their house.  

 

Many ambassadors, diplomats, high ranking state officials, Mr. Michel Kichka, an illustrious Israeli caricaturist born in Belgium, Mr. Ehud Olmert, former Prime Minister of Israel and Mayor of Jerusalem, people doing business with Belgium, member of Israel's Belgium community and a delegation of recent immigrants from Belarus studying at Kfar Hayarok representing the Model United Nations (MUN) included Dmitry Roumiantser, Vlad Shlyapintokh, Anna Samodumskaya and Aleksandra Sidareuka.    

 

Diplomacy.co.il   congratulates H.E. Mr. Stefaan and Mrs. Natuka Thijs on King's Day. Thank you for a memorable reception embedded with a powerful message 

 

  Photos Silvia G. Golan