On Tuesday, 29 July 2025, a farewell reception in honour of Israel's newly appointed Ambassador to Panama, H.E. Mr. Mattanya ( Matty ) Cohen was hosted by the Israel - Latin American Chamber of Commerce and by Honorary Consul of Belize and Vice President of the Ambassadors Club executive committee, Mr. Yoram Ray Naor in Herzliya Pituach. Many Latin American Ambassadors to Israel, high ranking government officials and members of Israel's international community attended the event.
H.E. Mr Mattanya Cohen was the Foreign Ministry's Head of the Latin American and Caribbean Division prior to his new appointment as Ambassador to Panama.
Israel's Chief of State Protocol, H.E. Mr. Gil Haskel congratulated Israel's new Ambassador to Panama praising his tireless efforts, many years of devoted service and visionary leadership which have intensified Israel's multilateral relations with Latin and MesoAmerican countries.
H.E. Mr. Mattanya Cohen responded by expressing his gratitude and thanks to his colleagues, partners and friends for their unwavering support throughout his career. He acknowledged and warmly mentioned his wife, Shira and their son, also present at the event.
H.E. Mr. Yitzhak Eldan, President of the Ambassadors Club, also Israel's former Chief of State Protocol and Ambassador to UNESCO offered a touching tribute, "We could not be prouder of you dear Matty, your steady leadership and reasoned voice are exactly what the world and Israel need presently".
Present at the reception were Mrs. Maya Sherman, Senior Innovation Officer at India's Ministry of the Exterior, H.E. Mr. Ofek Amir, the Foreign Ministry's Head of the Latin American Division, Dr. Ronit Almog, Ichilov Hospital Head of the International Humanitarian Programme, Ambassadors of Paraguay, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Vietnam, Dominican Republic, Mr. Natan Allalouf, Honorary Consul of Costa Rica, Mr. David Ben Basat, Vice President of ACI and Honorary Consul of Nauru, Mr. Roberto Spindel, President of the Israel - Latin American Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Sara Allalouf, Honorary Consul of Latvia, Dr. Menashe Rosenfeld, Honorary Consul of El Salvador, Mr. Maor Ifrah, an advisor in Israel's Foreign Ministry, Mr. Lior Haiat, the Foreign Ministry's North American Division's Director and Mr. Marian Cohen, President of C Mer Industries and more.
The evening was filled with warmth, admiration, and best wishes as guests celebrated Ambassador Cohen's contributions and looked forward with great confidence to his new role in Panama.
Diplomacy.co.il & www.diariojudio.com wish H.E. Mr Mattanya Cohen and his family have an abundance of success and Heavenly Aid as Israel's Ambassador to Panama.
Antoanet (Tony) levy
External Relations & Innovation President's Office,
HIT Holon Institute of Technology
Photos credit Silvia G. Golan
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