Welcome to Embassy of Israel Welcome to Embassy of Israel Welcome to Embassy of Israel Welcome to Embassy of Israel Welcome to Embassy of Israel Welcome to Embassy of Israel
Search

Search
Ministory of Foreign Affairs Ministory of Tourism Gov' Gateway
 
Embassy of Israel
Embassy of Israel
 

Home

Embassy News

Speech by His Excellency Sallai Meridor, Ambassador of Israel to the United States On the Occasion of Israel’s 60th Anniversary

MR. VICE PRESIDENT, [MADAME SPEAKER], MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, FELLOW AMBASSADORS, COLLEAGUES, DEAR FRIENDS OF ISRAEL,

THE ANTHEMS OF OUR TWO NATIONS HIGHLIGHT THE VALUES AND IDEALS WE BOTH HOLD TRUE. ISRAELIS AND AMERICANS ALIKE UNDERSTAND THAT TO BE A LAND OF THE FREE, WE MUST BE A HOME OF THE BRAVE. IT IS IN THIS SPIRIT THAT I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE ISRAELI AND AMERICAN ARMED FORCES. IT IS THEIR BRAVERY THAT ALLOWS US ALL TO LIVE IN FREEDOM - THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!

ISRAEL'S NATIONAL ANTHEM IS ABOUT HOPE - HATIKVAH, AND IT IS HOPE THAT IS AT THE SPIRITUAL CORE OF BOTH OUR NATIONS. ISRAEL IS THE FULFILLMENT OF A 2,000 YEAR

OLD DREAM, TO ONCE AGAIN BE A FREE NATION AGAIN IN OUR LAND, ABLE TO DEFEND OURSELVES AND DETERMINE OUR FUTURE.

OLD DREAM, TO ONCE AGAIN BE A FREE NATION AGAIN IN OUR LAND, ABLE TO DEFEND OURSELVES AND DETERMINE OUR FUTURE.

SIXTY YEARS. SIXTY YEARS OF REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT IN THE FACE OF GREAT CHALLENGES AND ENORMOUS ODDS. SIXTY YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY, IN SCIENCE, IN MEDICINE, AND IN THE ARTS. SIXTY YEARS OF BUILDING A VIBRANT DEMOCRACY AND THRIVING ECONOMY. SIXTY YEARS OF FULFILLING THE ANCIENT DREAM - THE INGATHERING OF OUR EXILES. .

SIXTY YEARS. SIXTY YEARS OF REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT IN THE FACE OF GREAT CHALLENGES AND ENORMOUS ODDS. SIXTY YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY, IN SCIENCE, IN MEDICINE, AND IN THE ARTS. SIXTY YEARS OF BUILDING A VIBRANT DEMOCRACY AND THRIVING ECONOMY. SIXTY YEARS OF FULFILLING THE ANCIENT DREAM - THE INGATHERING OF OUR EXILES.

IN THIS HISTORIC JOURNEY, ISRAEL HAS NOT BEEN ALONE. SINCE ISRAEL'S FIRST MOMENTS, WE HAVE HAD NO BETTER FRIEND THAN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AMERICA WAS THE FIRST TO RECOGNIZE ISRAEL. AMERICA CAME TO ISRAEL'S AID DURING THE YOM KIPPUR WAR. AMERICA FOUGHT TO OPEN THE GATES AND HELPED ISRAEL ABSORB MILLIONS OF JEWS. IN

ISRAEL'S STRUGGLE TO DEFEND ITSELF AS WELL AS IN ITS PURSUIT OF PEACE, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL KNOW THAT AMERICA STANDS WITH US. ISRAEL IS PROUD TO STAND WITH AMERICA AND IS GRATEFUL FOR AMERICA'S SUPPORT AND FRIENDSHIP.

IN THIS SPIRIT, IT GIVES ME MUCH PLEASURE TO WELCOME A GREAT FRIEND OF ISRAEL,VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY, WHO, TOGETHER WITH PRESIDENT BUSH AND BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN CONGRESS, HAS STRENGTHENED AND ENHANCED THE U.S.-ISRAEL RELATIONSHIP. MR. VICE PRESIDENT, ALLOW ME TO RAISE A TOAST TO BOTH OUR COUNTRIES AND SAY, "GOD BLESS ISRAEL AND GOD BLESS AMERICA."

MR. VICE PRESIDENT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING TO CELEBRATE ISRAEL'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY...

 

 

 

Embassy of Israel, Washington, D.C.

Press Release

60 Students from Sderot Visit the Embassy of Israel

***For Immediate Release*** July 23, 2008

WASHINGTON – Today, 60 students between the ages of 10 and 14 from the Israeli town of Sderot visited the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. The students were invited by the Chabad – Lubavitch Jewish community and are spending their summer at various Jewish – American camps throughout the Washington Metro area, hoping to expose young Americans to the challenges of life in Sderot.

While in Washington, the students visited various American landmarks such as the White House and the Capital building. While visiting the Embassy, the children were briefed on the contours of the US – Israeli relationship, the craft of diplomacy and the Embassy’s efforts to raise awareness of the Sderot community.

Under constant threat of rocket attacks from the neighboring Gaza Strip, life in Sderot has become a challenging, daily grind for its citizenry. Since June 2007, over 1500 rockets and approximately 1800 mortars have been fired from Gaza at the small town. Daily life is continuously threatened by the wail of sirens.

As a result of the daily rocket fire, many of the visiting students suffer various ailments and stress disorders. Two of the children that visited today had lost their fathers to rocket attacks, and a third child’s face was disfigured in an attack.


 

Israel on Campus Coalition missions at MFA

 

3 January 2008

On Thursday, January 3, 2008 leaders from 14 pro-Israel organizations -- representing the top member organizations of the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC) – and 41 diverse American Jewish student leaders from more than 25 colleges and universities across the US, were hosted by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to formally inaugurate a dialogue between the government of Israel and the ICC. The student meeting with Tzipi Livni demonstrated the MFA's commitment to the American college campus through the ICC's mission of collaboration and cooperation in support of Israel. Speaking to the students at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem, Livni thanked the students for their efforts to promote Israel education and advocacy on American college campuses. "I want to express my appreciation for your efforts because I know it's not easy," Foreign Minister Livni told the group. The students presented Livni with a signed solidarity statement which articulated their support for Israel as it turns 60, and reaffirmed their commitment to raising awareness about Israel on campus through diverse pro-Israel programs. During the meeting, Livni addressed pressing issues facing Israel at this pivotal time.

Aviv Shir-On, Deputy Director for Public Affairs in the MFA, met with the pro-Israel organizations and noted, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted today the ICC as a coalition of 32 American pro-Israel organizations active on American campuses, in order to strengthen the connection with Israel as well as Israel's image on American campuses -- and to increase the cooperation between the ICC and Israeli academic institutions. It is notable that this is the first activity in 2008 that has taken place as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations."

 

the Embassy of Israel was honored to host the Montgomery Village Rotary International Club* for an evening of Israeli culture.

On January 3, 2008

Minister-Counselor Rafael Harpaz, Director of Public Affairs, welcomed the Rotary and spoke to them about Israel’s foreign relations. Other speakers included Stuart Rutchik, President of the Montgomery Village Rotary Club, and Gina Michele Takemori, the president-elect. Following the presentations, Rotary members were treated to Israeli folk dance performances by “Yesodot,” a local dance troupe comprised of teenagers from the Washington, D.C. area. The event was a part of the Rotary International’s Embassy Series promoting fellowship and membership. * Rotary International is a service organization of nearly 1,200,000 business and professional leaders formed in 1905. Montgomery Village Rotary Club is part of Rotary International District 7620 and is one of 528 Districts worldwide. .

 

 

Embassy of Israel Copyright © 2006 Embassy of Israel. All rights reserved.
Web Design by Image-XL.com
Embassy of Israel