BENGALURU: As the independent state of Israel turned 69 on May 11, about 150 people gathered to celebrate the independence day as well as the silver jubilee of Israel’s diplomatic relation with India.
Held at Shangri-La Hotel, the perfumed lobby was abuzz with gleeful chatters and Israeli music playing in the backdrop.
Yael Hashavit, Israel’s Consul General to South India greets people at the door as they arrive after having a thorough rounds of strict security checks. Hashavit poses for pictures with the guests near Israel and India’s flag by the door. She reminisces about how the independence day is celebrated a night before the actual day in Israel with open barbecues and parties by the beach.
“In summer we enjoy going to beaches and relish Israeli cuisine. We will be having a few dishes here tonight. I am excited,” she tells City Express.
Saying Goodbye
Deputy Chief of Mission, Ziv Shavi catches up with City Express and expresses his gratitude to India and in particular Bengaluru. It is Shavi’s last two months in the city before he returns to Israel for good. “I completed my tenure here. Though I got a year’s extension, it is coming to an end and it saddens me and my family to leave. Bengaluru is my home, I will always find my excuse to come here,” shares Ziv.
One of the main reasons why Shavi is fascinated with the city is because of its reputation as an IT hub. Before Ziv turned to be a diplomat, he was an IT guy for ten years.
India is Israel’s bestfriend, says Ziv. “No other country can give three embassies such as India has given Israel,” he says. “The proof of it lies in Israel establishing its third embassy in Bengaluru four years ago,” he adds. Ziv has been here in the city ever since the embassy’s inception.
Four diplomats and about 25 employees of the consulate have focused on strengthening ties with South India and we have made a good ally, Ziv further shares. He concludes by saying “next year in Jerusalem,” a popular traditional phrase of the Israelis.
Place of Co-operation
Defence Attache, Colonel Zeev Mivtzari, came to the city for a day to attend the event. The last time he was here in the city was for the aero show which he says gets better every time. “Bengaluru is vibrant and dynamic. The city is a strategically important for defence because it is a place for co-operation,” he adds. The toast was raised at 8pm and the embassy’s various projects in the city were addressed. One of the highlight was ‘Open the door to Israel’ project conducted last September at Rangoli-Metro Art Centre Gallery, where a virtual exhibition of Israel took place.
The chief guest of the party was DK Shivkumar, minister for energy who talked about the ties between Karnataka and Israel. “We are bound by shared interests, values and determination to safeguard welfare and security and most importantly by culture and people-to-people contacts,” he says.
“I hope we continue to develop good relationship as we discover new avenues of co-opertaion and fulfill aspirations,” he concludes.