Diplomats posted in Israel from around the world gathered on Sunday evening for the first diplomatic event since the loosening of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. They met at the Tel Aviv Hilton in honor of Israel’s 73rd Independence Day.
Danny Danon, Israel’s former ambassador to the UN and currently head of World Likud, hosted the event. More than 60 diplomats, including at least a dozen ambassadors, mingled mask-free.
The diplomats were served gourmet versions of Israeli foods, including shwarma and roasted eggplant with tehina, and a man pushed a wagon around the room, stacked high with warm Jerusalem bagels. The festivities were accompanied by a live band that played Middle Eastern instruments, such as the oud.
Several diplomats who began their posting in Israel since the start of the pandemic said they had met very few of their colleagues in Israel and were excited to be able to socialize with them. Some of them from countries that were hard hit by the coronavirus said they were still nervous.
The event was mostly closed to the press, and the attendees did not speak on the record.
Danon told the attendees it was “nice to see people outside of Zoom” and touted Israel’s fast vaccination operation.
Regarding the Iranian nuclear threat, he recounted a conversation he had with Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, who told him: “We must pay greater attention to the threats of our enemies than to the promises of our allies.”
“If the US decides to reenter the [2015 Iran] deal with no amendments, Israel will take all necessary steps to secure our interests,” Danon said.
Regarding Israel’s four elections in two years, he said: “We are proud of our democracy and love our democracy very much. We hope for the end of the cycle of elections and the emergence of a strong government to lead Israel in the next few years.”
Israel is celebrating “true independence” this week, Danon said.
“We don’t take for granted the hard work it took for us to build our beautiful nation,” he stated. “We celebrate… our ability to speak up for our rights and the ability to stand up for ourselves, by ourselves. We are no longer a voiceless people.”