(Communicated by MFA Spokesperson’s Bureau)

The 5th Yehudah Paz Annual Development Day was held at the Knesset on Wednesday, 16 December 2015. The participants discussed Israeli foreign aid and its contribution to boosting Israel’s international standing.

This is the first time that the event was held at the Knesset. The conference was divided into two parts: in the morning, the Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs and Public Diplomacy, chaired by MK Michael Oren, discussed humanitarian aid and development as a means of building and strengthening Israel’s foreign relations. In the afternoon, the topic was the Israeli Global Initiative – how Israeli innovation can change people’s lives in the developing world, featuring representatives from various development agencies of civil society in Israel, in conjunction with MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation.

The main speakers at the conference included MK Michael Oren; Ron Prosor, Israel’s former ambassador to the UN; Ambassador Gil Haskel, head of MASHAV; and Mr. Mario Pazzini, guest of honor and head of OECD’s Development Centre.

Top experts on the subject of development took part in the conference, which brought together professionals from the government, the Knesset, the public, private and civil sectors to discuss Israeli international development activities.

This event revealed to the public the wide range of Israel’s activities around the world, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When Israel provides aid to the developing world, it also opens up new markets to Israeli commercial companies, creates a wide range of jobs in the fields of education, health, agriculture, welfare and others, and boosts tourism in Israel. And, above all, the main benefit to Israel of its development work is the strengthening of its ties with developing countries.

The head of MASHAV, Ambassador Gil Haskel: “I hope that the subject of foreign aid will win a much more central place in governmental circles in Israel, enabling MASHAV to contribute much more to the world on behalf of the State of Israel.”