Welcome, Shalom, hare mai
Tenakoto, tenakoto, tenakoto
katoa
Israel is celebrating its self determination as a proud member of the
international community at a time when our region is experiencing great
upheavals marked by violence and hostilities. Yet, although we can't ignore the
challenges that are placed at our doorsteps, we refuse to succumb to a style of
life that can only be described as anathema to the core values of our Zionist
identity. As a democratic society we just held our elections and while we
gather here our elected officials are hammering out the identity of our
government which will reflect the sovereign will of our people. Once
established, the new cabinet will no doubt have to engage in the tasks that our
country is facing both domestically and externally.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As a member of the community of Nations, Israel should enjoy the same
rights as any other country. Nevertheless, we are still the only country in the
world whose existence is being rejected by some very unsavory regimes and
groups extremely close to our borders. Is it so difficult then to understand
our collective concerns? We will never prefer hostile actions to diplomatic
solutions, but when the threat is close to home, we do not have the luxury of
placing out trust in the goodwill of those who wish to see us disappear from
the face of the earth. Nevertheless my country which has yet to enjoy the
blessings of peaceful coexistence across all our borders will not tire
from searching for peace. We are ardent believers in direct negotiations and
have serious misgivings about the option of having a blueprint being dictated
by third parties. Suffice it to say that when such an option is contemplated,
instead of promoting dialogue and possible advance, what is achieved is the
opposite result. It brings about the evaporation of all incentives for our
counterparts to go through the necessary process of soul-searching and the
consequent understanding that peace requires some serious and indeed difficult
decisions.
Friends,
Independence Day is a motive for celebration and we are happy to say
that we have many reasons to be quite proud of our record.
We lead the world in investment in R&D- 4.2% of our GDP and in the
proportion of people employed in R&D- 140 for every 10,000 people. Israel
occupies the first place among 148 economies in terms of innovative capacity,
the second place in entreupeunership and 3rd in global innovation. No wonder then that over 300 leading
multi-national companies chose Israel as a major destination for their R&D
centers.
More scientific papers per capita are published in Israel than in any
other country and we hold the second place in the number of new books per
capita. You may also be interested to know that Israel is the only country in the world
where the number of trees at the beginning of the 21st century was bigger than
their number a century ago.
The Israeli economy is marching to a healthy rhythm of constant growth, low unemployment and a growing network
of commercial ties with countries far and near. We are delighted to see an
increased cooperation with China and India and continuing strong ties with
Europe, North America and Latin America. Our commitment to excellence is a sure
tonic to maintain our reputation as the Start-Up nation.
Last year we saw the participation of New Zealand in the famous DLD
(Digital Life Design) Tel Aviv. Our Embassy was among the 20 who had been
chosen from among all of Israel’s diplomatic missions to take part in a
competition designed to send a promising start-up entrepreneur to Israel. In
cooperation with our partners at Grow Wellington, the Wellington city Council,
Creative HQ, and Callaghan we succeeded in putting together the contest and
sent a talented start-up entrepreneur to take part in an international
innovation event. A few weeks ago we
participated in promoting an event in which leading Israeli High Tech companies
presented themselves in Auckland. That meeting was an important step in building
up our ties. Soon Israel will host the Small Advanced Economies Forum, and we
are looking forward to welcoming New Zealand among the other members of this
forum.
In short, I have no doubt that if we put our minds to it, we can take our ties to new
and exciting levels. We can build a strong relationship based on our mutual
commitment to excellence and innovation.
In the sphere of education, allow me to hail the successful realization
of yet another seminar on Holocaust studies for New Zealand educators which
took place at Yad Vashem, The Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. This 2 week endeavor,
in collaboration with the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand is an important
component in the effort to ensure accurate Holocaust remembrance as well as that
the lessons to be learned from this dark chapter are never forgotten.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In less than 48 hours flags around New Zealand and Australia will be
flown at half mast, in memory of the sons and daughters who made the supreme
sacrifice on the battlefields of Europe and the Levant. As an Israeli, I, just
like every single Israeli in the World, can identify wholly and completely with
the words "lest we forget" and the message they convey. We remember
along with you the events in Gallipoli not just because we are your friends,
but because we too share the legacy, albeit more modestly, in the image of the
Zion Mule Corps. From 1915, on to 1917 and later in WW2, our histories have
touched each other in so many ways. The small printed cube you hold in your
hands, elaborated in the framework of “The World in a Box” project of Victoria
University tells one such story. We shall remember them here and in Israel
where our president will honor their memories by attending the Anzac Day event
Lechayim
-Ambassador Yosef Livne