Honorable guests, esteemed friends, and fellow Israeli citizens,Today, as we gather to celebrate the 77 th Independence Day of the State of Israel, we stand united in gratitude, remembrance, and hope. This day marks not only the miracle of our nation’s revival but also the enduring spirit of a people who have returned to their ancestral homeland after centuries of exile.

 

 

Our connection to the land of Israel is ancient and unbreakable. The Jewish people’s historical and legal rights to the Land are rooted deeply in millennia of presence and faith. The Balfour Declaration, the San Remo Resolution, and the League of Nations Mandate all recognized our legitimate claim to this land, affirming the justice of our return. Israel is not a land seized by colonizers but the rightful homecoming of an indigenous people who have persevered through exile and adversity.

This year, our celebration is tempered by the harsh realities we face. We remember the sacrifices of our brave sons and daughters who have fallen defending our nation. We honor the wounded heroes who inspire us with their courage and resilience. We stand firm against those who seek to destroy us, terrorists who must know there is no place to hide from justice for their crimes against innocent people. The tragic events of October 7, 2023, remain a solemn reminder of our ongoing struggle, yet also a testament to our unyielding commitment to peace, security, and the safety of all our citizens.

Our strength lies not only in our military might but in our unity, innovation, and the spirit of our people. Israel has transformed itself into a developed nation, a beacon of democracy and technological advancement. We have built a society that thrives despite challenges, a society ranked among the happiest in the world. This success is born from solidarity, cooperation, and a relentless pursuit of progress.

Our ties with the world, especially with friends like Nepal, exemplify our commitment to peace and mutual growth. Since June 1st, 1960, Israel and Nepal have enjoyed stable and friendly relations, cooperating in Education, Agriculture, Health, Infrastructure, Water resources, Rural development, and security among other topics. Over 4,000 Nepalese have benefited from agricultural training in Agriculture Academic Centers and Agricultural communities in Israel during their studies for a title in Agriculture from Nepali Universities, many of them are now great successes in Nepal.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank in this regard the wonderful cooperation with Sana Kisan which has helped recruit thousands of students from around Nepal. Thousands of Nepalis have gained invaluable experience through Mashav, Israel’s AID Agency, in innumerable courses of experts in Israel and in Nepal in various topics since the1960’. We are proud to support Nepal’s agricultural modernization and economic development, and we look forward to expanding our multilateral cooperation in other topics like IT and Cyber Technology in the years ahead.

 

We cherish the cultural and human bonds that unite us, appreciating Nepal’s rich and peaceful ethnicity, landscapes and traditions while fostering deeper ties through agreements. Some agreements which are ready and almost ready to be signed are evidence for further understanding and the will to enhance our relations for mutual benefit. Our shared experiences, including the pain of terrorism, have only strengthened our resolve to work together for a better future.

Israel continues to provide financial and moral support to Nepalese families affected by terror, standingin solidarity with all victims of violence. Along many centuries and generations from the times of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the people of Israel are an eternal people, and will endure forever. With this enduring

spirit, we will continue to defend our homeland, build our society, pursue peace in the Middle East and friendship and cooperation throughout the globe. On this 77th Independence Day, let us honor the past, embrace the present, and look forward with hope. May the bonds of friendship between Israel and Nepal grow ever stronger. May ourcooperation bring prosperity and peace to both our people. And may the people of Israel, AmYisrael Chai, live forever.