The Pool Bar at Tel Aviv's Hilton Hotel was the perfect sunset location last Tuesday for a party to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Israel and Thailand. As the sun sank into the Mediterranean Sea, members of the Diplomatic Corps, the Israeli business community, VIPs, high society and journalists mingled, chatted, laughed and enjoyed the delicious food and drinks.
In the background a Thai sextet played authentic Thai music, while guests were startled to see artists weaving Thai silk, others crafting gorgeous artistic creations out of fruits and vegetables, and yet others hand-painting tiny Thai umbrellas – given to guests as a souvenir of the evening.
Hosting the party was H.E. Mr. Jukr Boon-Long, ambassador to Israel of the Kingdom of Thailand. The ambassador, in a short and gracious address to welcome the guests noted that in honor of this 60th diplomatic anniversary, Thailand Post and Israel Post have jointly issued stamps in their respective countries – an unusual and very creative way of symbolizing the close ties between the two states.
He added that Israel and Thailand share cultural, medical, agricultural, scientific, investment and trade ties. "Culture transcends any boundary. Culture could travel beyond territorial; political, religious, and ideological borders. Culture creates understanding amongst people of different races. For this reason, the Embassy is very conscious of how better understanding of each other's cultures and background can lead to a reservoir of goodwill and cooperation among nations."
Among the ambassadors and other distinguished guests was the doyen of the Israeli diplomatic corps, H. E. Henri Etoundi Essomba , ambassador of Cameroon; H. E..Lars Faaborg-Andersen; the ambassador to Israel of the European Union; H. E. Sisa Ngombane , ambassador of South Africa; Adv. Joseph Gillor, honorary consul for Thailand in Haifa and President of the Israel-Thailand Chamber of Commerce; Ms. Sawalee Eldar, CEO of Oriental Food Importers Ltd., and of course Ms. Rinat Gilboa who designed the exquisite Israeli stamp. She told your DIPLOMACY correspondent that this is not the first time she has designed stamps for the Israel Postal Authority, and that "it takes endless hours to get it just right".
Also honoring the guests with their presence were Hezi Zaieg, Chairman of Israel Postal Company, and Haim Elmoznino, CEO & President of the Company. They participated in the unveiling of the actual stamp, and paid tribute to the close relationship between the two countries, and thanked the stamp's designer again for her brilliant work.
Israel's Minister of Communication, Gilad Erdan, represented the government of Israel and replied on behalf of the people of Israel. He noted that it is not coincidental that the theme of the stamp is the Thai mangosteen fruit and the Israeli pomegranate. "These fruits are symbolic of the fruitful and long-standing excellent relations that have existed between the two countries since Israel was only 6 years old", said Mr. Erdan, who then revealed that when he was a young man just released from the army, he chose to spend a long period of time touring Thailand as a backpacker, and added that today Thailand is the 2nd most popular tourist destination for Israelis. Guests at the event were invited to taste the mangosteen fruits, especially imported for the occasion.
Also especially "imported" was the cultural troupe who performed authentic Thai dancing and musical excerpts, from the Bunditpatanasilpa Institute of Thailand. They showcased some of Thailand's exquisite culture. They are currently on tour to Beer Sheva, Nazareth, and Haifa with the kind sponsorship of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture.
A gift of a day-of-issue cancellation envelope of the two stamps (Thai and Israel) was presented to each guest, together with colorful literature on tourist attractions in Thailand.
This will be a hard act to follow.
Photos Silvia Golan
