President Isaac Herzog received the credentials today of the new ambassadors of Australia, the Philippines, El Salvador, South Korea, and Türkiye in a series of official ceremonies at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.
The incoming ambassadors were welcomed by the IDF Orchestra playing their respective national anthems and they inspected an IDF honour guard in the Ceremonial Plaza, after which they presented their letters of credence to the President in the Great Hall. The President held an audience with each ambassador, after which each ambassador signed the guest book. At the end of each ceremony, the Israeli national anthem was played.
The first ambassador to present his letters of credence to the President was the Ambassador of the Commonwealth of Australia, Dr. Ralph Peter King, formerly Australia’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Kuwait.
President Herzog told him: “Australia is an immense friend of the State of Israel.
I am very grateful for Australia’s support of Israel’s position in so many international forums.”
The Australian Ambassador added that he intends to work to promote trade and reciprocal tourism, to maintain Australia’s support for Israel in international forums, and to prevent it from being singled out, emphasising the promotion of long-term peace.