November 19, 2012
The Department of Posts on Monday issued a postal stamp commemorating the 20 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel.
“It is indeed a privilege to be here today on this particular occasion of presentation ceremony to commemorate 20 years of diplomatic relation between Indiaand Israel,” Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal said while speaking at an event to release the stamp.
Sibal said India’s journey of diplomatic relations with Israel started in 1992 and since then Israel has emerged as a significant key partner on many fronts like defence, science and technology, water, non-conventional energy among others.
“Israel is 6th largest trading partner with India,” Sibal said. He said India is a huge market for Israel, especially the growing middle class in India which has reached 300 million people.
Ambassador of Israel to India Alon Ushpiz said: “Capabilities on both sides when it comes to art to design is quite amazing. It gives us very good feeling when artist from both sides collaborate,” Ushpiz said.
The Ambassador said that he thinks values are common in India and Israel that lay solid foundation in diplomatic relations of the two nations. “Postal services and stamps are still cradles of any civilisation’s communications. It is something that people share,” Ushpiz said.
The Indian stamp shows a row of traditional earthen lamps, diyas, representing Diwali and the Israeli stamp features a menorah with the word “Zion” inscribed inside a Magen David star.
Israel earlier this month on the occasion of Hannukah had also issued a stamp to mark 20 years of diplomatic relations with India. Hanukkah, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC.
In past India has issued joint stamps with France, Mexico, Japan and Cyprus to commemorate bilateral ties.