(Communicated by the MFA Spokesperson)
The Foreign Ministry hand-over ceremony took place today (Monday, 14 June 2021) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the participation of outgoing FM Gabi Ashkenazi, incoming FM Yair Lapid and incoming Deputy FM Idan Roll. Following is incoming FM Lapid's speech:
“Good morning,
“I'm here because I really want to be. My appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs didn't happen by accident or as a result of the appointments puzzle that goes along with forming a coalition. I wanted to come here and made every effort to be here.
“I wanted to be here because I know the field and care about it, I've worked in it these past years. I believe I can contribute. I believe I can learn from the people who are here. I believe we will do great things together.
“In the past years Israel has abandoned its foreign service, abandoned the international arena. And then we woke up one morning to find that our international standing has been weakened.
“The staff of the Foreign Ministry aren't responsible for that deterioration. The opposite is true. For the past few years you have been the last thing standing in the way of a total collapse. Without you, the situation would be far worse.
“Gabi Ashkenazi did the best he could to improve the situation and his best is an awful lot, but he was in the wrong government and without backing.
“A series of key arenas were neglected.
“The management of the relationship with the Democratic Party in the United States was careless and dangerous. I've warned against it more than once, but the outgoing government took a terrible gamble, reckless and dangerous, to focus exclusively on the Republican Party and abandon Israel's bi-partisan standing. The Republicans are important to us, their friendship is important to us, but not only the friendship of the Republican party.
“We find ourselves with a Democratic White House, Senate and House and they are angry. We need to change the way we work with them.
“Last night I spoke with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. We both believe that it is possible, and imperative, to build relations based on mutual respect and better dialogue.
“The same is true with the Jewish world, and especially the Jewish community in the US. It's time for a change. The support of Christian evangelicals and other groups is important and heart-warming, but the Jewish people are more than allies, they are family. Jews from all streams, Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox, are our family. And family is always the most important relationship, and the one that needs to be worked on more than any other.
“Also, with the countries of the European Union our situation is not good enough. Our relationship with too many governments has been neglected and become hostile. Shouting that everyone is antisemitic isn't a policy or a work plan, even if it sometimes feels right.
“I spoke last night with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and exchanged messages with my friend, President Macron of France. We all think that it's time to change, to improve, to deepen the dialogue between Israel and Europe.
“We have to prepare quickly for the return to the nuclear agreement with Iran. It was a bad deal. I opposed it. I still oppose it. Israel could have, with a different approach, influenced it far more.
“We will manage this task together with Prime Minister Bennett, but there is one organizing principle: Israel will do whatever it takes to prevent Iran obtaining a nuclear bomb.
“Part of our work will of course be to strengthen our presence in the region. Great things have happened this past year. We need to continue the development that started with the Abraham Accords. To work to strengthen the peace with the Gulf States, with Egypt and with Jordan. We will work to sign agreements with more countries in the region and beyond. It's a process, it won't happen in a day, but the Foreign Ministry will coordinate those efforts.
“On that note, I would like to add something in light of recent reports: Jordan is an important strategic ally. King Abdullah is an important regional leader and a strategic ally, we will work with him and strengthen the relationship between our countries.
“As always, the Palestinian arena will define, to a large extent, other arenas as well. We might not be expecting a final status agreement soon but there is a lot we can do to improve the lives of the Palestinians and the dialogue with them on civil issues.
“In that context, I want to say something about the latest operation in Gaza. The world doesn't always understand the conditions in which Israel operates. We'll try to change that.
“It won't happen overnight, it won't take a month, but faced with the disgraceful propaganda against us we will need to make clear to the world that we are fighting a sick terror organization which has no problem firing rockets from kindergartens and schools.
“Israel has every right to defend itself. Hamas needs to know that we won't hesitate to respond with force to any rocket fire or terror attack. Hamas is the only one responsible for the death of innocent civilians. And still, it is not weakness to admit that our hearts break for every child who dies in conflict. Children don't need to die in the wars of adults.
“I haven't spoken about a range of other important issues – Russia, China, India, Latin America, Asia, Africa, economic investment in Israel but we need to leave something for the coming days.
“When I look at our international standing, especially with countries in the west, our situation isn’t good. I don't remember a period when our story was under such a sustained attack. Too often the outgoing leadership scored cheap points here at home through public relations and irresponsible statements without taking into account the damage it does to our international standing.
“I'll act differently, but because I'm a politician I will sometimes slip up, and then I expect you to come and tell me. You'll find that I believe in an organizational culture in which you're allowed to say everything so long as it serves our mission.
“I insisted upon the fact that in the coalition agreements the Foreign Ministry will receive a significant increase in its budget.
“We will start the process today – which will be led by Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll – of integrating back into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry for Strategic Affairs and the management of the fight against the delegitimization of Israel.
“We will work together to speed up the approval of Ambassadors and Consuls and of key appointments which should have been done a long time ago. The era of starving Israel's Foreign Ministry will not continue.
“For too long you have been left alone in this fight. In that context, you have done and are doing incredible work. I want to thank Gabi Ashkenazi again who brought to the table organizational abilities, management and a lot of wisdom.
“Israel has a strong story. The facts are on our side. We are a vibrant, peace-seeking democracy which is fighting for its life against the darkest forces of terror in the world.
“I'm happy to be here with you. I've waited for this a long time.
“Thank you.”