After the presentation of credentials, President Duterte and Ambassador Harpaz exchanged views on how to further strengthen Philippine-Israel relations.

“The upcoming historic visit of President Duterte to Israel will enable both our countries to expand and strengthen our excellent relations to many more fields. President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are looking forward to meeting President Duterte in Israel,” Ambassador Harpaz said in a statement.

“Israel and the Philippines share an extensive and warm relationship in many areas, including economic and trade relations, security cooperation, agriculture, development assistance, and tourism,” he added.

Ambassador Harpaz said Philippine-Israel relations stands on the noble deed of the Philippines through the late President Manuel Quezon’s “Open Door policy” that saved 1,300 Jewish people from the Holocaust. “Israel is eternally thankful to the gracious deed of the Philippines to save Jewish lives,” he said.

“We are also appreciative to the approximately 30,000 Filipinos who are working as caregivers to many Israelis in need,” Ambassador Harpaz added.

He further expressed appreciation to the thousands of Filipino professionals who participate in development programs in Israel and in the Philippines, through MASHAV, Israel’s international agency for development cooperation. He also commended the more than 600 Filipino students from 29 state universities and colleges who participate in the 11-month internship in modern agriculture program in Israel every year.

Ambassador Harpaz arrived in the Philippines on August 26, 2018. Prior to his designation as Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines, he served as the Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MFA) Central Asia and Caucasus Department since December 2015.

He served as Israel’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan (2012-2015), and Director of Public Affairs Department in the Embassy of Israel in Washington D.C. (2005-2009). He also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of Israel in Stockholm, Sweden (1999-2003), Bern, Switzerland (1993-1997), and Abidjan, Ivory Coast (1991-1993).

In MFA’s head office in Jerusalem, Ambassador Harpaz served as the Head of Economic Department (Africa, America) from 2009-2012, Export Control Coordinator of Division of Strategic Affairs (2003-2005), and Deputy Director of North Africa Division (1997-1999). He joined the MFA in 1989.