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...

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. .

Seminar for Counterpart Diplomats

On December 3rd

On December 3rd, the Embassy of Israel held a Seminar for American Diplomats who will be posted in Israel. The seminar is held twice a year and is in its 13th year. Israeli Diplomats and other Embassy staff welcomed eight American Diplomats and four Hebrew teachers from the US Department of State to Jerusalem Hall for a briefing on various topics about Israel. The Director of the Congressional department, Mr. Daniel Meron, spoke on behalf of the Deputy Chief of Mission. He congratulated the diplomats for coming to the Embassy, wished them success on their new postings and delivered a short briefing about the United States-Israel Relations as well as the role and duties of Israel Embassy to the United States. The IDF representative, Captain Ofir Kochavi, spoke about The Israel Defense Force as a key element in the Israeli Society and presented the Ethical Code of the IDF.

The presentation “From the land of Milk and Honey to the land of Tech and Money”, about Israeli industry, was given by the commercial attach?, Mr. Ohad Cohen, and Minister-Counselor Eynat Shlein delivered a briefing about the Middle East. Tamar Mayer, the Cultural Attache, spoke about Israeli Culture. The seminar was concluded by two very interesting talks; the Financial Attache, Mr. Ron Dermer, spoke about the Israeli economy and economic relations with the United States, and the benefits for both parties and the Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Rafael Harpaz, spoke about the challenges of Israel's public diplomacy in the United States. This was undoubtedly one of the most important and significant events for strengthening the relations between Israeli and American Diplomats.