Ministry D-G hosts Iftar banquet for Arab diplomats
(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)


Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-General Ron Prosor, together with Acting Deputy Director-General for the Middle East Ya'acov Keidar and senior ministry officials, yesterday (October 9) hosted the Arab diplomatic corps in Israel for the Iftar meal at the end of the daily Ramadan fast. Participants included Egyptian Ambassador Muhamed Assem Ibrahim, Mauritanian Ambassador Ould Teguedi Ahmed, Jordanian Charge d'Affaires Nadif Omr, and their staffs. Last evening's banquet was the continuation of a tradition begun by Israeli Ambassador Ali Yihye to break the daily fast of Ramadan with the envoys of Arab countries. Director-General Prosor welcomed the guests with the traditional greeting of "Ramadan kareem" and wishes for a good New Year 5766 according to the Hebrew calendar. He noted this year's juxtaposition of the holy month of Ramadan and Rosh Hashana, stressing the significance of their gathering during a month that is holy to both religions. Prosor expressed the hope that additional meetings and fruitful discussions would further the development of relations in the region. The director-general also surveyed the political developments following disengagement and stressed that it is Israel's desire to improve relations with the Arab countries and peoples of the region, alongside the necessity of a joint struggle against the threat of armed Islamist fundamentalism. Director-General Prosor took the opportunity to express Israel's condolences to the victims of the earthquake in Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan.