Государство Израиль
On holding a state reception in Israel on the occasion of Russia Day
On June 12, in Herzliya state reception was held at the residence of Ambassador of Russia to Israel Anatoly Viktorov on the occasion of Russia Day.
The event was attended by Minister for Social Equality and Advancement of the Status of Women May Golan as the main guest of honor.
In his address, Anatoly Viktorov, in particular, noted that over more than a thousand years of history, our country has become home to many peoples, made outstanding geographical discoveries, launched the space era of mankind, and given the world brilliant scientists, artists, and writers. Emphasized that Russian foreign policy is peaceful, open, predictable, and pragmatic, based on the desire for equal international cooperation. He also pointed out that Russia will not allow direct threats to the country's security and sovereignty to persist on its borders, and will continue to achieve all the goals of the special military operation in Ukraine. Emphasized that the solid foundation of cooperation between Russia and Israel laid over the past decades allows us to look to the future with optimism. Reminded that this year our two countries celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, the main event of modern history, on a large scale and solemnly. Expressed confidence that it is impossible to achieve sustainable peace and stability in the Middle East region without ending the bloodshed, resolving humanitarian problems and achieving a political and diplomatic settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
About 300 guests participated. Among them were Deputy Directors General of the Israeli Foreign Ministry Yuval Fuchs and Oded Joseph, Head of the State Protocol of the Israeli Foreign Ministry Gil Haskel, as well as several heads of the Israeli Foreign Ministry bureau, head of the Nativ organization Alon Shoham, representatives of the Knesset, Israeli ministries and departments, the Coordinating Council of Organizations of Russian-Speaking Compatriots in Israel, the Israeli Association of Graduates of Soviet and Russian Universities, business and academic circles, veteran and compatriot movements, political and public figures, journalists.
Ambassadors, diplomats and representatives of military attachés of twenty-nine friendly states, UN staff, mayors of Israeli cities, as well as the Honorary Consul General of the Russian Federation in the Northern District Amin Safia were present.
The reception was attended by His Beatitude Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine Theophilos III, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif, the leadership of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem and the Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, representatives and clergy of other local churches.
With the support of the Moscow Government, a performance by the Folk Song Ensemble "Lyubo-Milo" was organized. Songs in Russian and Hebrew were also performed by the laureate of international music competitions, fourteen-year-old Israeli Sofia Kopteva.
The full text of Anatoly Viktorov's speech can be found at the following links: in Russian, in English.