In a tradition of Independence Day, President Reuven Rivlin on Thursday hosted the Foreign Diplomatic Corps at his residence in Jerusalem, this time with some new guests: the newly appointed delegates to Israel from the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.
The two nations recently normalized relations with Israel.
According to Channel 12 News, the ambassadors of Jordan and Egypt also attended the festival after avoiding it in recent years.
Get The Times of Israel Daily Edition by Email and Never Miss Our Top Stories Free Sign Up
Rivlin, whose term as president ends this summer, told those present that “on this Independence Day, we also celebrate the new spirit of peace that is spreading through the Middle East.”
Earlier on Thursday, the Embassy’s official Twitter account posted a photo of the Israeli and Emirate flags side by side with the caption: “The UAE Embassy in Israel wishes the citizens of Israel a happy Independence Day!”
The Emirate of the United Arab Emirates in Israel congratulates the citizens of the State of Israel, Happy Independence Day! pic.twitter.com/Y05OOSPOaI
– UAE Embassy in Israel (@UAEinIsrael) 15 April 2021
Rivlin added: “The relations between the peoples are growing stronger and show that the way to peace is through cooperation between people and cooperation that benefits both parties, rather than attacks on Israel in international institutions.”
He apparently referred at the request of the Palestinian government to the decision of the International Criminal Court to investigate Israel and Hamas for alleged war crimes.
“It is my hope and prayer that the growing circle of peace will also bring our Palestinian neighbors closer,” he said.
Rivlin told diplomats that he was “particularly pleased that we can celebrate here, despite the pandemic.”
He said he had always found “great friendship and appreciation for Israel” during his travels around the world as president, “because of its vibrant democracy, its cultural diversity and its innovation.”
And he said international cooperation is now more important than ever as the world tries to end the coronavirus pandemic with global vaccinations.
He also warned that Iran was threatening local stability and peace, saying that Israel “would not accept” its existence and would do anything to stop those who wanted to harm it.
Earlier in the day, the president hosted an annual ceremony at his residence to award the Army’s annual quotes for outstanding service to 120 Israeli Army soldiers and officers from various military units.
“As a child, I grew up in the days when we had no land. For my Israel[‘s existence] was not a given, ”Rivlin told the soldiers, remembering the 73 years of Israel’s history. “For the younger generation of today, the powerful and strong state of Israel, innovative and prosperous, pioneering and happy, is an existing fact.”
President Reuven Rivlin (CR) with IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi (CL) at an event for outstanding soldiers as part of Israel’s 73rd Independence Day celebrations at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on April 14, 2021. (GPO)
“But our internal building, the work on our country and society, is not over yet,” he said.
“I am touched to stand before you for the last time today as President. On this Independence Day, you give us 120 reasons to be proud, ‘he said, adding that’ even if we as a nation seem to be struggling to agree on the path, we have not lost our way ‘, probably referring to the political a deadlock that has left the country without a stable government for more than two years.
The celebrations of Independence Day began Wednesday night with an official torchlight ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem and continued Thursday. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis visited national parks, museums and various events throughout the day after coronavirus restrictions were significantly relaxed.
