ANT KATZ

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin addressed a reception last week hosted by Egypt’s Ambassador to Israel Hazem Khairat and his wife, in honour of the Egyptian national day marking the Egyptian Revolution of 1952.

Also present were Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara.

President Rivlin, a seventh-generation Jerusalemite who is fluent in Arabic and English and speaks several other languages, began speaking in Arabic. “It is an honour for me that we are celebrating Egypt’s independence together, ‘Om El Donya, Mother of the World’. On my own behalf and on behalf of all the citizens of the State of Israel, we congratulate President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the Egyptian people.”

Switching to English, the President went on to say – to much applause: “Israel stands shoulder to shoulder with Egypt in its fight against terror.”

RIGHT: Rivlin, right, with Khairat: Picture courtesy GPO

“Human culture as we know it would not be the same without Egypt,” continued the President, adding that “Egypt’s greatness has not remained only in the past. To this day your country is a leading force in our region, and a truly positive one’,” Rivlin told the assembled diplomatic corps.

“As other countries in our region are torn by internal war and jihadi terror, Egypt stands out as a pillar of stability.” He stressed, “Now more than ever Egypt’s leadership is indispensable in the Middle East.”

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May you know no more grief

President Rivlin went on to speak of the importance of standing together in the face of the threat of terrorism. He said, “I send my own condolences, along with the condolences of all Israelis, to all those hurt and wounded, and to the families and friends of those who were killed by terror this year. May you know no more grief.” The struggle against terror, said Rivlin, is one that has to be fought, as it was “for the benefit of our entire region and for the benefit of humanity itself.”

On the importance of the peace treaty between the two counries, Rivlin said that it had been thirty seven years since Israel signed its peace treaty with Egypt. “Ever since, Egypt has been a strategic partner: in security, commerce, and regional cooperation,” he said, adding that this was “proof of the importance and benefits of peace.”

The president expressed his hope was to develop peace and stability in the entire region. “The younger generations are looking for development and progress in hi-tech, science, and commerce,” he said. “I hope that we can work together to carry out these projects for the benefit of all peoples.
Should the two countries succeed in their current initiatives in this regard, said Rivlin, he felt sure that many more international players from in the middle East and beyond will join them.

“In this context, I would like to recognise the personal commitment of President el-Sisi to peace, reconciliation, and stability,” and that Israel “deeply appreciates this commitment.”

Rivlin concluded, in Arabic, “May G-d bless Egypt with happiness.”

Busy week ahead

As always, as South Africa takes the day off to vote this Wednesday, the hard-working Rivlin will spend his morning receiving diplomatic credentials of five new ambassadors to Israel. They are from: India, Chile, Malta, Estonia, and Lesotho.

On Thursday evening (4 August) Rivlin will participate in the official memorial ceremony for Ze’ev Jabotinsky, marking 76 years since his death. Prime Minister Netanyahu will also participate. Jabotinsky, together with Theodore Herzl, played a very major part in the creation of the modern state of Israel (although he never lived to see it). It is appropriate, therefore, that Thursday’s ceremony will take place on Mt Herzl.

• LikudSA and the SA Zionist Federation are planning to bring Jabotinsky’s grandson to SA later this year.