(Communicated by the Office of the President)

President Reuven Rivlin, this morning (Sunday 8 February 2015), met with heads of the Israeli diplomatic missions in North America, including Israel’s Ambassador to Canada and consul generals from across North America, including a number of diplomats about to take up appointments there.

President Rivlin welcomed the representatives, and expressed to them the importance of their roles to the State of Israel, as well as the importance of the relations between Israel and the countries in which they serve. 

“You come here today from very friendly nations, places with which Israel has special and close relationships.  Canada and the US are very significant supporters of our international relationships.  You workload is heavy and far from easy.  Sometimes, representing us to friendly nations is even harder, and requires great thought and consideration in order to further and maintain existing, good relations, and to stand the tests that arise over the course of time.  We must remember, that our friendships are between peoples.  Our friendships are above political parties and opinions, they are friendships borne out of trust and shared values, and it should be remembered that even such close friends can have a difference of opinion, and even agree to disagree on the issue of Iran, or on the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian tragedy through which we have been living for so many years.”

The President wished the diplomats much success in their roles.