I am delighted to be greeting you, Rabbis, Community Leaders and Friends, on the celebration of our New Year, 5771.

Every year in Israel's sixty-two year long history has been special, but this year, for so many reasons, has been extraordinary. The quietest year in terms of security, 5770 also saw Israel's admission into the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), acknowledging Israel's status as one of the world's most advanced economies. Last year Israel retained its record as home to the greatest number of scientific papers, technological patents, and Nobel Prizes per capita than any other nation. And 5770 was Israel's busiest year ever in terms of tourism.

Read more: Ambassador Oren's Rosh Hashana Greetings

President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu sit down at the White House. (Israeli Prime Minister Office/Sept. 1)

Read more: Picture Timeline of the Direct Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks

Israeli Prime Mnister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today in Washington DC as direct peace negotiations began between the two sides. Senior officials from Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the United States held trilateral meetings, before Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas sat down one-on-one to further discuss the framework for a peace agreements. The talks lasted more than five hours and additional meetings between the Israelis and the Palestinians are tentatively planned for September 14-15 in Egypt.

A picture timeline of the opening peace talks is available here.

Read more: Netanyahu, Abbas Launch Direct Peace Talks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined U.S. President Barack Obama and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House this evening to begin the direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak also spoke and confirmed their commitment to peace in the region.

Video available here.

Transcript of the press conference:
Opening remarks from President Obama
Remarks from President Mubarak
Remarks from King Abdullah
Remarks from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Remarks from President Mahmoud Abbas
Closing remarks from President Obama

Read more: Peace Talks: Obama, Netanyahu and Abbas Hold Joint Press Conference

^{31 August 2010}

Two Israeli doctors restored the gift of sight to patients in Cameroon, while instructing local doctors to perform the procedure themselves.

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More on the Israeli Foreign Office Website.