On these days in Kyiv a three-days conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the death of prominent Jewish writer and playwright Sholem Aleichem, whose life is closely connected with Ukraine, is being held.

The real name of the writer is Solomon Naumovich Rabinovich, he was born on March 2, 1859 in the city of Pereyaslav at Poltava. His nickname is translated as “Peace be upon you!” - a traditional Jewish greeting. And Sholem Aleichem himself befitted his name: he was glad, reckless and cheerful. Up to date adults and children like his works: for his commitment to children's literature Sholem Aleichem is often compared to Mark Twain.

In his works, Solomon Naumovich portrayed the life of ordinary Jews living in Eastern Europe, did it with an inimitable sense of humor, emphasizing the characteristics and flavor of Jewish life at that time. I think many of you have seen Tevye the Dairyman in the performance of the great Ukrainian actor - Bohdan Stupka, a role which he played for many years. In this image the whole soul of the Jewish people is very clear and vibrantly illustrated: long-suffering, patient, proud and cheerful.

Besides the famous “Tevye the Dairyman”, he is the author of “Motl, the Cantor’s Son”, “Wandering Stars”, “Song of Songs” and many other works of our favourite ones. In addition to Jews, Sholem Aleichem wrote also about Ukrainians: about the friendship between the two peoples, their lives and shared way of life, culture and traditions.

For many years Sholem Aleichem lived in Odessa and Kyiv. And in 1905, he left his homeland with his family, pulling through demolitions. Then there were Switzerland, Germany, America - the path of the emigrant is never simple. The writer died of tuberculosis in 1916 in New York. He was only 57 years old.

I am very pleased with the fact that the name of Sholem Aleichem is not forgotten in Ukraine. The streets in Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Chernivtsi, Billa Tserkva, Grodno, Drohobych, Zhytomyr, Berdychiv, Skvyra, Poltava, Korosten, Lida, Rogachev, and Kherson are named after him...

In Kyiv there is a beautiful monument and museum in honor of Sholem Aleichem. Solomon Naumovich is buried in New York, but according to his granddaughter, to the end of his life he tenderly loved and remembered Kyiv.

I know Istanbul for fragrant coffee, old bazaar, Hagia Sophia, friendly and cheerful people.

Today Istanbul is in mourning: at night a bloody terrorist attack took place, the victims of which, according to preliminary data, were estimated 50 people, more than 150 are injured. Among the victims there is Ukrainian Larysa Tsepakova, born in 1960.

I express my deep condolences to Mrs. Larysa’s relatives, families and friends of the killed and all the Turkish people! This is a terrible tragedy that cannot be forgiven.

I am sure that now stones will fly from both sides, everyone will blame each other, recall when and who sympathized whom or did not do that, who promised something to someone. But I just encourage supporting the Turkish people in their grief. The most important thing is not to be afraid, not to bow, not to become a victim.

Unfortunately, Israel is familiar with terrorism. Since the latest wave of terrorism that has covered Israel since autumn 2015, in the country there have been almost 300 terrorist attacks, victims of which became nearly 40 people, they were cut, hit by cars, shot or blown up. Every day Israelis are in the area of ​​terrorist threats. Therefore, the army, police, security services and all the citizens themselves are ready to respond to attackers at any moment. This is a necessary condition for their own safety, not a whim. It is important to realize that terrorism is not something that is “somewhere far away”, it is a real threat and we should not be afraid, we should be alert, know exactly how to behave in the case of danger. This will help to save lives.

And again I express my sincere condolences to the citizens of Turkey.

If you need to know more details about the attack in Istanbul, the hot line of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Istanbul is: +905306125577 and the MFA of Ukraine: +380442381777, +380442381657

The address of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Kyiv is: 22 Panasa Myrnogo Str.,embassy.kiev@mfa.gov.tr

Nowadays Israeli army is one of the strongest and the most advanced in the world.

Their technical equipment, training and supply can be the source of envy from any other army. Now IDF will become the strongest in the region: its army will receive 5th generation jet fighter F-35. I am confident to say that it is unique, the best plane, that was engineers managed to design so far. With this plane Israel, state received aerial superiority over any other country.

F-35 is produced by USA company Lockheed Martin. Key feature is that it is invisible on the enemy radars. Stels plane can infiltrate any spot in the world without the threat of being detected. Plane is produced as special modification F-35i that stands for Israel, and will get the name Ardir. The most accurate translation from Hebrew is “cool”.

Just in the recent time, Israel Air Force will receive 19 planes. Till the end of 2020 Israel will get 33 planes and 4 flight simulators, that will help in drastically reduce the cost pilot training. Despite that Israel got the permission to install own RLS and weapon control systems on the F-35. Such combination of US equipment and Israel electronics will render the plane even more powerfull.

In Israel it is well understood, that well-armed army is the guaranty of self-security. In modern world defense potential of the state is not defined with the quantity of soldiers, but with economic power and the quality of arms. Tiny eight million Israel in the desert land, without water and soil could create strong economic state. It is needed for the authorities to think about the state first.

Dear Ukrainians, I congratulate you on Constitution Day!

Exactly 20 years ago, the Verkhovna Rada passed its main law, according to which clearly and confidently declared Ukraine a sovereign, independent, legal country, main objective of which is to protect the rights and liberties of every citizen.

“An individual, his life and health, honour and dignity, inviolability and security shall be recognised in Ukraine as the highest social value. Human rights and freedoms, and guarantees thereof shall determine the essence and course of activities of the State”, these words define the democratic development of modern Ukraine.

Today Ukrainian courageous soldiers are protecting the inviolability of these words with their lives. Every day Ukrainians show to the world that nobody can prevent us to live in our native land, nobody can prevent us from raising our flag, to go our own way!

The words of the Constitution of Ukraine are not just engraved in the hearts of Ukrainians, they take their origins from prominent statesmen - Volodymyr the Great, Yaroslav the Wise, Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Mykhailo Hrushevsky. Back in 1710 Hetman Pylyp Orlyk created a collection of laws that proclaimed the independence of the state and became the prototype of the modern Constitution of Ukraine.

It is important to understand that even the most democratic Constitution itself cannot change life for better. Only we ourselves can build the life which will provide the implementation of all norms of the main law. Only when in our society life, health, honor and dignity, integrity and security of everyone will be approved and realized as the highest value, Ukraine will become a true European democracy. I believe that Ukrainians will achieve this goal!

I wish inspiration, peace and happiness to everyone! Congratulations!

Today Ukraine celebrates Youth Day.

I congratulate all young people on the holiday and wish inexhaustible energy, inspiration, youth anxiety and sincere love.

Youth is the most active part of society. It is on the way which the youth has chosen depends social and economic development of the country and eventually around the world.

The youth of our country is beautiful, intelligent and fearless. It became the driving force that two years ago led to changes in Ukraine: then young people clearly chose the European way of development and human values. Now many of them protect Ukraine from the enemy, which denies the Ukrainian choice.

I believe that our younger generation will be able to defeat any enemy, build a strong, rich and independent Ukraine! On this day I wish all young people happiness, strength and inspiration to implement all plans. Remember that the main thing is belief in yourself, then you will succeed. I wish you to meet only friends in your life journey and to be always lucky!

Israel is one of the smallest countries in the world, just over more than 8 mln people live there – as in two regions of Ukraine.

Israel is situated in the desert, where practically there are no any natural resources. At the same time - in a relatively short time of its existence, the country has made tremendous progress. Israel allocates more funds for research and development than any other developed country of the world (except Sweden). Many things we use every day have been invented in Israel.

For example, in Israel they invented ICQ - the communication system and technologies that now allow communicating by WhatsApp and Messenger, ZIP - the system of the files compression, first drone, solar heater, color printer, USB flash drive, computers, controlled by gestures, apps to call taxis, tablet with the camera inside. By the way, cherry tomatoes were also “invented” in Israel. I suggest you watching a small video, which shows only a part of the inventions devised by Israelis.

As the lessons of history show, all great empires collapsed mainly because the authorities could not stop.

The desire to have more was leading to the loss of any control at all. Rome, Byzantium, the Ottoman Empire - all of these powers began to devour themselves from within, because at a certain stage it was impossible to control a large number of completely mentally different nations. The number of problems was increasing in proportion to the expansion of territories. Today, Russia takes 1\6 of the land, but “simply there is no money”. So it finds a foreign enemy, which is easier to blame for all the troubles, than to try to explain to their own people, why in the 21st century, a space power can not pave the roads at least in the largest cities, but it can bomb Syria for six months. The main thing is to make vodka cheaper.

Yesterday the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU. This is the beginning of the end. If initially the EU was supposed to be a strong fiscal union, the attempt to draw Croatia, Slovakia, and the Baltic states led to the logical recessionary consequences. Moreover, any attempt to unite under one banner so many different nations was doomed to failure. Well, it is impossible to try to unite the pedantic Germans and choleric Spanish by general rules. The recent empire - the USSR - also for 70 years has been telling the world that the Kazakhs, Belarusians, Yakuts and Estonians are one people. The truth is that in the USSR any protests at this were suppressed by a shot in the head, not a referendum.

When the EU consisted of the “locomotive” of European financial strength – the Old World countries - it was effective and rational. An attempt “to broaden ownership” maximally and take to the EU the countries, which obviously lose to their neighbors on any economic or social indicators, like in any empire - has led to a loss of control.

Now let's think about the vector of development of Europe without the EU: the European values ​​are attainable without a common treasury between the Czech Republic and Belgium. Or we cannot develop democracy, respect human rights and adhere to European values ​​without uniting into one union? It is clear that British do not want to feed the millions of illegal immigrants or refugees at their own expense. They quite reasonably do not understand why their - obviously more powerful country - has to give and pay when it can receive and earn. And why it is called the Union.

And the most important thing we should think about today is if really Ukraine, which is geographically one of the largest and most densely populated countries in Europe, will not be able to achieve peace and stability without joining any unions and alliances? Maybe it is just enough to put things in order in our own home? To expel the thieves from the government and the judiciary? And then who knows, the integration will not be needed.

In my posts I repeatedly come across the comments, in which there are attempts to accuse Israel of a lack of assistance to Ukraine at such a powerful potential.

I want to clarify the situation. Over the past two years, Ukraine and Israel became closer than ever before. Sadly, that the reason for this was the war.

Certainly it seems that the rapprochement on the political level is quite slow, but it is only an illusion: formal procedures take too much time. But they are inviolable “once and for all”.

But at the level of “people's diplomacy” everything is moving by leaps and bounds. After the introduction of visa-free regime for Ukrainians, the flow of our citizens, who regularly visit the Jewish state, has grown significantly.

Israel is a unique country. It has ancient roots and at the same time modern Israel consists of a mix of traditions, cultures and stories of people who still continue to inhabit it. So here it is easy to “get a foot in the door”. Therefore, Ukrainians get easily across to Israelis. Especially that we have a common history, common traditions, and now the same situation, when neighbors come to us “with their own charter”.

While politicians are adopting experience of ruling the country, army and defense from the Israeli colleagues, the Israeli clinics accept Ukrainian soldiers for treatment, ordinary Israelis collect money for Ukrainian orphanages, displaced persons, are engaged in the popularization of Ukraine in Israel. For example, right tomorrow the Ethno-Village Ukrainian Festival will be held in Tel Aviv. This festival is organized by people who named their organization Israeli Friends of Ukraine – what can be more eloquent. The musicians from Ukraine are invited to the festival, Ukrainian cuisine and traditions will be presented for Israelis. In addition, the organizers plan to raise funds, which then will be given to Ukrainian orphanages and children who undergo treatment in Israel.

During my visits to Israel I try to bring to Israelis the thought that Ukraine - is a good friend to Israel. Just to refresh – the biggest national community in Israel are Ukrainians. This are more than 500 thousand people, who keep their contacts with Ukrainian family and close ones. Of course they warry about what is going on in our country and want to help.

No matter how propaganda and prejudices separates us, it is impossible to destroy simple human relations and friendship. I’m grateful for our Israeli friends for their constant help and support that Israel provides to Ukraine. From my side, I will put maximum effort to develop bilateral relations even further between our countries.

75 years ago the troops of Nazi Germany invaded the territory of the USSR.

This treacherous attack is considered the beginning of the Great Patriotic War and the day when World War II came to Ukraine.

But in fact this war for Ukrainians started September 1, 1939. From the beginning, Ukrainians were in the epicenter of this terrible war, which killed every fifth Ukrainian. Was it possible to prevent this terrible tragedy? Probably no, because sooner or later the two tyrants had to start fighting for world domination. Victims of their struggle were more than 27 millions of Ukrainians, Jews, Russians, Poles, French, British, and other nations.

Still we feel the consequences of the war, and even now we can hear the recriminations. Historians still discover new facts and details of the terrible crimes against humanity.

The worst thing is that it seems that humanity does not make any conclusions from these lessons: once Ukraine has experienced the consequences how self-centeredness and lust for power of the two tyrants have claimed millions of lives. Then Ukrainians had more casualties than the United Kingdom, Canada, the USA and France combined. On this day we remember those who have died in the war, but their sacrifice will be useless if we lose the most important - their memory. We cannot forget the crimes against the Ukrainian people, against the Jews, who have been destroyed by the fascist regime. Our descendants should know and understand at what price they have got their lives. But up until now there are those who try to manipulate history.

Everything is cyclical in the world, and now history is repeating, as then, mankind ignores the obvious facts. But the world will not survive this third war. Let us learn to respect our own history! I would like each of us have finally learned to make independent conclusions based on historical facts, and have not fallen under the influence of propaganda.

May the memory of all the victims live forever!

Many states have already experienced what “a good friend and reliable partner” Russia is.

Now Israel has learnt. In early June, Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu came with an official visit to Russia. Just a month and a half before he traveled to the Russian Federation on a working visit.

During all this time in Israel, they spoke about warming in the Russian-Israeli relations, what is especially important for Israel in the international arena and the UN in particular. In the case of development of bilateral cooperation, Israel would secure the support of Russia in the UN Security Council and Russia would irritate the United States – generally, everybody would be satisfied.

So, at the end of the visit the important agreements in the field of trade and economic cooperation, cultural and humanitarian ties are signed, Russia agrees to pay pensions to its former citizens, who now live in Israel, Netanyahu states that Moscow feels like home - perfect harmony.

But! It does not take more than two weeks from the end of the Israeli leader's visit to Russia, as the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that he did not think to support Israel in the UN. Like, “these are apples and oranges”. And no one cares about the signed declarations and agreements. Russia has changed its mind and that's it. If Israel were not as strong as it is, maybe little green men would appear in the Golan.

Still Russia proves at the highest diplomatic level once again that its official statements do not mean anything.

Today, Christians celebrate one of the biggest religious holidays - Pentecost!

I congratulate all Christians on this great holiday and wish you all happiness and God's blessing! I wish you all health, joy, kindness and love! May the Lord protect every Ukrainian family, all the soldiers and people every day.

The holiday Pentecost is one of the most respected and favorite holidays among Ukrainians, it has been celebrated since ancient times. Pentecost or Whitsunday is a symbol of unity and victory of truth. According to the Bible, on the 50th day after the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples of Christ and they began to speak different languages, preaching the words of their teacher. This day is considered the birthday of the Christian church. This is one of the biggest religious holidays, it was celebrated even in Soviet times, when the church did not actually exist.

Another name for this holiday is the Green holidays, which is celebrated for three days before and three days after Pentecost. Traditionally, on these days Ukrainians decorate their homes with fragrant branches of calamus and fresh herbs as a symbol of renewal and rebirth. Priests wear green clothing for the liturgy on this day. Christians inherited this custom from the Jewish holiday Shavuot, which was celebrated a week ago: synagogues were decorated with greenery in the memory of how at Mount Sinai everything flourished and was green on the day when Moses received the tables of the Testimony.

Ukrainians have one more meaning to the Pentecost, this is the celebration of summer, waiting for the new crop and worship to the earth. The day before so-called Rusalii or mermaid days were celebrated – the special events to commemorate the dead, commemorative days. It was believed that on these days you can not swim in water and habitation should be protected with wormwood from mermaids and mavkas. In some villages wheels were decorated with flowers - a symbol of the sun - and then they tried to set fire to it.

Once again I congratulate everyone on this merry holiday and wish peace, joy and goodness. I wish you meet Pentecost with good hopes, bright thoughts and good deeds.

According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine this year in the waters of Ukraine 348 people drowned, among them 50 people only in June.

Two days ago in Zatoka of Odessa region 2 children drowned, as well as 2 adults, who were trying to save them. This statistic reminds the reports from the front line, and with the beginning of beach season and vacation period, it will only increase.

If you have been in Odessa region, you have seen the kilometers of beaches, built up with new hotels and restaurants. And who of you have seen lifeguards? If you go to Kyiv, Dnipro or Kherson beaches, the situation is the same. Why do local officials begin immediately “put things in order” and find the guilty only after a tragedy that kills children? Haven’t the problems been so obvious by this time?

Annually millions of tourists come to Israel, Israelis themselves like to go to the beach. According to the Ministry of Interior of the State of Israel, last year in the country 26 people drowned, among them 21 people on the beaches without lifeguards and in the areas where swimming was prohibited. Beach season is from April to October in Israel. This year 140 equipped beaches will officially work in Israel. Each of them has set flags that warn about the state of the sea: white, red and black. Lifeguards do not only help to get out of the water, but they can also not let you into water or return you to shore if the waves are too high in their opinion. That’s, of course, your business to risk your life or don’t, the information is provided to you 100%. The waves of the Mediterranean Sea are not the ones of the Black and Azov Sea, even a strong man cannot always cope with them. So in Israel it is better to rest on the beach with lifeguards.

Lifeguards have special training including physical ones, learn basic phrases in English, French and Russian, so you will be understood almost everywhere. In the municipal beaches there are equipped playgrounds for volleyball and soccer, dance classes are held. Some beaches have swimming pools with sea water. There are beaches for nudists, beaches for religious Jews, where men and women swim in different days. Everywhere there are toilets, shower, locker rooms, and free bottled water. Everywhere you can rent the loungers, umbrellas or beach chairs. Many beaches have beach libraries, where there are books in Hebrew, English, French or Spanish. In Tel Aviv, there is a free rental of badminton, chess, matkot.

There are also beaches for dogs, because you will not be allowed to enter an ordinary municipal beach with your pet: in Israel the rights of others are respected. For the disabled there are convenient accesses to water and special places with awnings. Besides lifeguards there are also doctors on duty, storages work. Beaches are clean - that goes without saying. In principle, there is nothing supernatural, everything can be embodied without enormous expenses. Nevertheless, the municipal beaches of Ukraine are mostly not suitable for people with disabilities and generally they are not appropriate for relaxation. Territories are hardly cleaned, there almost no facilities, many beaches are not equipped with simple composting toilets, but almost everywhere there will be kiosks selling beer and other alcohol, even to the minors, as well as self-maintained rope swings, bungee jumping, and other “extremes”, which are increasing the number of accidents annually.
And last autumn in Israeli Rishon LeZion by the order of the municipality and at the request of residents all the cafes and restaurant, which occupied the coastal zone, were demolished and expanded the beach for the convenience of beachgoers.

There are professions that make our life easier or make it more comfortable and interesting.

And there are professions that save our lives and dedicate themselves to serve a man. I'm talking about doctors, whose professional holiday was celebrated yesterday.

Dear Aesculapians, I congratulate you on Day of the Medical Workers! I wish you, of course, good health, great patience and enormous happiness! Today you have to work in unbelievable conditions – with pennyworth wages, lack of necessary equipment and basic medicines. I admire those who continue to bear their difficult and such an important service, saving lives on a daily basis in such a situation.

Today, when the Ukrainian soldiers are defending our country, your work is specially needed. The lives and health of soldiers, their relatives and friends depend on you. You, as well as they do, protect and defend us from the enemy.

A low bow to you for your tireless work, kindness and mercy! From my heart I wish you success, peaceful sky and happiness!

On the eve in Kyiv six Ukrainian families received Righteous Among the Nations award from the State of Israel.

The people and families, who during the Holocaust have been saving Jews from death, carry this honorary rank.

Personally only one righteous - 88-year-old Oksana Markivna Antypchuk from Uzhachyn settlement of Zhytomyr region came to receive the award. The other heroes were awarded posthumously. At the age of 13 Oksana saved a Jewish boy Nahum, whose family was killed: while her house was being searched, Oksana with a child were hiding under the heating stove. Then Oksana Markivna’s family was hiding Nahum for a long time, having baptized him with a Christian name Anatoliy. Throughout his life he called Oksana Markivna his second mother, maintained relationships with her family. He died two months before the rewarding of his rescuer.

According to the Israeli law, the title of Righteous Among the Nations is given to non-Jews who have risked their lives saving Jews during the Holocaust. Ukraine occupies the 4th place in the world by the number of the righteous: at the beginning of 2016 there were more than 2,500 Ukrainians, who made efforts to save Jews. All the names of the righteous are stored in Yad-Vashem, the Holocaust History Museum in Israel. It is important to understand that helping Jews demanded a tremendous courage and sacrifice: for the hiding of Jews there was only one punishment - death. Also the whole family of a savior was destroyed. Despite this, thousands of Jews were able to survive thanks to the help and courage of the real People who were ready to sacrifice their own lives to save innocent.

Jews have a saying: “Save a life, save a whole world”. Ukrainian righteous saved the world many, many times. Their names will be never forgotten, their heroism will always be an example for future generations and a reminder of the terrible crimes of the Holocaust.

With the beginning of the war in Donbass and annexing of Crimea, Ukraine is forced to catch up in the development of arms, and modernize its army in the fasters way.

It doesn’t go so smooth all the time, but changes are clear.

Last week I wrote about the new gadget – tank helmet that can see through armor – it was presented by Israeli developers on the arms exhibition in Paris. So thus, Ukrainian Oboromprom presented the latest national arms development on the same exhibition. Latest additions are models of anti-missile systems, new models of armored vehicles and legendary BT "OPLOT", automatic guns and mortars, and a full-scale model of the modern armored vehicle "Dozor-B". Exhibition lots included the research of scientific-manufacture union “Praktika”: tactical vehicle “Kozak-II”, “Bars 6” and armored vehicle “Defender”.

I specially add many photos so you can witness this beauty. All this vehicles Ukroboromprom designs as per NATO standards, this means that they can be used not only by Ukrainian army, but by other modern armies too. Our Ukrainian equipment shifts to the world standards of quality, functionality and security.

Just within last two years Ukraine achieved more than for the previous two decades. And all this in the environment of war and economic crisis. And some people had doubts that our development was intentionally on hold? And I’d like to mention that import substitution program in military sphere works successfully and no one faces loses withouth Russian spares.

For two years Ukraine has been trying to explain to the world what is happening in the Donbass.

We're trying to tell what this so-called “Russian world” is, that has decided to save the part of Ukraine (preferably the larger one) from the terrible Bandera’s followers (Jewish followers of Bandera?). For two years, the forms of presentation of this information and rhetoric are changing, but the subject of discussion is not changing.

Well, now the representatives of this world itself have come on vacation to the European Championship: Meet, Europe! Less than for a week, this Russian world has taught English, French and other “ignoramuses” how to live. While at the stadium the Russian team in all its glory and according all the established rules is fighting to enter play-off, the championship out of stadium is gaining momentum. For the third day the Russian press is shouting about how “peaceful Russian fans” are being oppressed and they themselves have almost become victims. Yesterday, these “victims” beat to death an Englishman. We are looking forward when the Russian press will write that it has been a necessary measure, because he has cheered on not the right team and that offended the honor of all football fans.

Dozens of Ukrainian politicians and diplomats are trying to convey to Europe, that it is not enough to be “just concerned” or “deeply concerned”, it is necessary to arm oneselves, to defend and to put the followers of the Russian world in their place. The entire European press lists the “feats” of Russian fans and is terrified by savagery and stupidity of these individuals. Gentlemen, they have just come to you “to relax” and watch the game, but only with fists and chairs they were able to destroy the center of Marseille. In Ukraine, they come with the same enthusiastic fuse not with fists but with machine guns, tanks, GRADs...

Today, European politicians are hotly debating about easing of sanctions, and ordinary European perceives Ukraine as something associated with Chernobyl, Maidan, USSR, Klitschko, Jamala, corruption and the place were using BUK missile launchers they can target the aircraft. In general, any war is perceived extremely abstractly, when it does not affect your life and your country. It is quite possible that Ukrainians will have to thank the Russian fans for sudden clarification of the European public.

Just now president Petro Poroshenko informed, that Yurii Soloshenko and Gennadii Afanasiev are returning back to Ukraine!

I congratulate all Ukrainians with this!

We are witnessing the creation of the history itself, where the state stands still for their citizen. Such attitude to its people defines democratic and strong state.

To refresh, Genadii Afanasiev was detained on 9th May 2014 in Simferopol and were accused in the organization of terrorist group together with Oleg Sentsov. Russian Themis sentenced him to seven years of jail.

73 year old Yurii Soloshenko was detained in August 2014 during his visit to Moscow. Detained for the try “to buy secret spares for anti-aircraft missile systems S-300”…. Was sentenced to six years of jail.

I great Yurii and Gennadii back on the motherland! I believe that they, together with Nadiia Savchenko are only the first sign that all our citizens who are seized in Russia will return home.

Over the past 80 years, the history of Ukrainians was so mangled that even the scientists themselves often do not know what really the truth and fiction is

For decades, we were taught that Jews and Ukrainians are enemies who have nothing in common; Soviet propaganda identified individual perpetrators of this or that nationality with all the people. “Divide and conquer” - this principle has worked always and unconditionally: it is much easier to manage people, which has no roots, no friends, and is surrounded by enemies.

Today, the ideological propaganda works with no less success. Despite the huge number of the sources of information in the 21st century and an opportunity to compare and analyze the facts and events, we often tend to believe in already “processed” subjects. As a trivial example, on my page under almost each post there are 2-3 comments, in which they write something like this, “Jews are bad, they have seized power in Ukraine”… This is the case when the conclusion “bad \ good” is drawn on account of ethnic descent, with a few people are identified with the whole nation.

And yet, historically fates of Jews and Ukrainians have intertwined very closely and more evidence is being found. Recently, in Lviv, they have opened the exhibition, which represents the articles of Judaica and Jewish life from the collections of local museums. Among the rarities there is a unique exhibit - a decorative bottle, dating from the late 19th century. Inside it on a thin rod there is an artfully decorated egg: its shell is covered with text in Hebrew. The words of the text are the early and little-known version of the present Israeli anthem - Hatikva.

The text, which is now known to every Israeli and which is sung at all the official ceremonies and represents the State of Israel in the world, was written by a native of Zolochiv Naftali Imber in 1886.

The author of this work of art is microcalligrapher Jacob Dreizin from Ukrainian Oleksandriia. As a hobby, he chose the writing of Hebrew texts on a thin shell of chicken and pigeon eggs. After a hundred of years, we can admire his works.

Until now, many people, especially of the older generation, believe that Jews and Ukrainians have nothing in common except mutual hatred and hostility. But the facts are an obstinate thing. For centuries, Ukrainians and Jews lived side by side, and still continue to coexist peacefully. The more we know about it, the clearer our history will be for us, the more tolerant and patient we will be.

Today, at an arms fair in Paris, Israel will present to the public its new invention - IronVision system that allows the tank team actually see through the armor.

IronVision system is designed to solve one of the major problems which the crews of tanks and armored personnel carriers face - a limited field of vision. Until today, the only solution was to open the manhole to look out, thus - to set oneself on fire.

Israeli scientists developed the device, that looks like a helmet and gives the ability to look through the tank: system consists from the helmet and cameras, that are placed on the tank base. Information from cameras is transferred to the helmet display, and is adjusted according to the angle or position of operators’ head. Additionally, visor can receive the picture from UAV. Display has indication of friends and foes with blue and red colors respectively. The technology behind this is kept secret but it is obvious that such device can save countless lives among both military and civilian.

One more development of Israeli engineers is radar, that can track living force deep in the green zones. It will not only track motion, but will inform who is moving – military, civilian, or the pack of boars. System SuperVisIR has the ability to transfer panoramic picture of surrounding directly to the monitor. It is basically the observation post where one spot works as ten. This system can analyze the movement and provide the targeting for aviation of artillery.

Israel is considered a world leader in cyber security, tactical use of digital technology, production of drones. Once again I repeat that all this has become possible only thanks to a complex state support, so today Israel can boast of such unique developments. I hope that Ukraine will be able to boast of new tactical armament, instead of another corruption scandal in the state purchases system.

Today in Israel people celebrate Shavuot - the day when the union between God and man was concluded.

On the 50th day after the Exodus from Egypt, at Mount Sinai Moses was given the tablets of the Covenant with the Ten Commandments, which we follow up to this day. Also in the Jewish tradition, it is assumed to think that at the same time, Moses received from God the oral commandments, some of which he wrote himself – it is so-called Pentateuch, or the written Torah. The rest of the Commandments was kept verbally and were recorded only 1500 years after the destruction of the Second Temple. Today we call this book the Talmud.

Shavuot is celebrated on the 6th day of the Hebrew month of Sivan. On this day in all the synagogues a solemn reading of the Torah and the Ten Commandments is held. On the streets of Israel on Shavuot day you can see children with wreaths on their heads and with baskets full of fresh fruit: a symbol of the seven kinds of fruit, granted to Jews by God - wheat, barley, grapes, fig, pomegranates, olives and dates. It has long been the custom to decorate the home and synagogue with greenery, flowers, and branches of trees, reminiscent of greenery that grew around Mount Sinai when the Jews received the Torah. In Jewish tradition, it is believed that the exodus from Egypt was not a complete liberation from slavery. Only after receiving the Torah, Jews became completely free people.

In the evening, with the coming of the feast the large meal is arranged. Before it the kiddush ceremony is carried out (a blessing recited over a glass of wine). On this day it is accepted to eat dairy foods - in memory of the fact that, when Jews received the Torah, the laws of kosher meat and the separation of meat and dairy product were difficult and unusual for them and they ate only dairy foods for some time. Since then, paying a tribute to the past, on Shavuot before dinner people eat something dairy and only then holiday meat dishes are served in a separate bowl.
I congratulate all Jews on the holiday and wish you today and always to feel the support of the Almighty. Chag Shavuot Sameach!

Now in Kyiv, there is an exhibition of the works of the Ukrainian and Israeli photographers “Between war and peace. Ukraine-Israel”.

The artists of Ukraine and Israel have shown what they see life in all its forms, on a background of a war.

At the exhibition works, which have been photographed in different places, by different photographers during the Revolution of dignity, in the Donbas and during the Arab-Israeli conflict, are presented. But the depth and the similarity of problems really strike: it looks like it is one people in the photo. There and here ordinary people defend their freedom, fight back to the enemy and desire only one thing - peace and happiness. Here you can see clear parallels between what is happening here in Ukraine and that what Israel is going through. It becomes clear how small the world is, how fragile the boundary between war and peace is.

The first stage of the exhibition was held in Israel. Then the exposition was visited by thousands of Israelis. I am sure that in Ukraine it will be visited by no fewer spectators. The exhibition in Kiev will continue until June 20, in the Ostannya Barykada (the Last Barricade) on the Maidan (Independence Square, 1), near Lyadsky gate. After this the exhibition will be transported to Kharkiv, and then - to Lviv.

Today, at the Stade de France Euro 2016 starts!

A big celebration of football begins. It seems, that just recently Euro 2012 has ended in Ukraine, but already 4 years have passed. Within a month, 24 teams will compete in the championship for the title of the best in Europe. Ukrainian team has already arrived in France and is preparing for the first match.
Today tens of thousands of fans from different countries have arrived to the tournament, so the championship will become not only a holiday, but also a test for the French police: just six months ago, a bloody terrorist attack claimed the lives of 130 people in France.

Today in the country the state of emergency is maintained, so if you intend to visit the matches, be prepared for a tough inspection. Minister of the Interior of France Bernard Cazeneuve said that nearly 90 thousand of policemen, soldiers and private security agencies would ensure the safety of participants and spectators. Ministry of the Interior of France has even developed a special mobile app (available for smartphones based on iOS and Android), which will notify of a possible terrorist threat. In all public places law enforcement officers of France have established a monitoring system that can monitor unusual situations.

As for the main championship arena, more than 1 thousand of policemen and almost 1.5 thousand of guards will be on duty at the Stade de France. To get to the stadium or to any fan zone you will need to go through a metal detector and inspection of personal belongings. All the places of matchmaking will be the unpiloted areas.

I'm sure these measures are necessary: the safety of people must always come first. I want to encourage Ukrainians and Israelis, who are going to visit Euro-2016 to show increased vigilance, particularly in public places. You must remember that any crowded places, public transports, shopping malls are the places of heightened danger. So if the behavior of any passers seems strange to you, immediately contact the police or security. Always carry a document.

If you are in an emergency situation, please contact the Embassy of Ukraine in France by phone +33 (0) 143-06-07-37, e-mail: emb_fr@mfa.gov.ua, or 24 hours “hot line” of Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: + 38-044-238-16-57.
Let me remind you that in Ukraine the championship took place without a single major incident four years ago. I really hope that French people will also be able to ensure the safety of all participants of the championship.
Our national team will play its first match against the current champions of the world - the German national team - June 12 (June 16 Ukrainians will play against Northern Ireland, and June 21- with the Poles). I wish the Ukrainian footballers a bright game and brilliant victories! We cheer on you!

Yesterday, in a bloody terrorist attack in the center of Tel Aviv 4 people were killed and about 5 people were wounded.

In the Sarona shopping mall two terrorists opened fire and shot a crowd of people who came out for shopping and decided to spend time with their family in the evening... I offer my deepest condolences to the relatives and families of the innocent victims. Eternal memory.

Among the victims there is 41-year-old Ido Ben-Ari, a former commando of elite troops of Israel, his wife was wounded. They came to the mall with two children to have supper. Except Ben-Ari, 39-year-old Ilan Naveh, 32-year-old Mila Mishaeva, and 58-year-old Michael Feige were killed. All these people were just sacrificed. Remember, recently I have written about the conflict of ideologies? So that is what it is: two armed assassins come to the mall and fire into the crowd.

I do not want to talk about what is happening in Israel - it is clear to everyone. But I'm willing to tell you how people respond to the killing in Gaza: there they had celebrations on the occasion of the murder of four civilians. On the streets sweets were distributed. In Judea and Samaria Arabs went out to the streets, sang joyful songs and launched fireworks. These people had a celebration on the occasion of the murder. Hamas promised to continue the series of terrorist attacks in honor of Ramadan.

At the same time the best Israeli doctors were fighting for the life of the wounded in the Sarona and were saving from the death one of the terrorists who had been shooting people an hour before.

Do you know what will happen next? And then Israel as a democratic state that respects the rights of any person and adheres to international standards will judge and condemn the murderer. He will go to a completely comfortable Israeli prison where he will be able, of course, if he will want, to get an education with the Israeli diploma. And the countries, that support such murderers, will give to his family a decent amount of cash and may remove them in a more peaceful place to live. For the Arabs of Gaza or Samaria, he will be a hero, who has shed blood “for the good fight”. Perhaps later he will be even exchanged for some of the Israeli soldiers, if the need arises.

Don’t you find any similarities? Violence and terrorism always act by using equally cynical methods: “release” civilians of the Donbass or Syria, shooting people on their own land. The terrorism mask is the same all over the world. This is a brutal violence under the guise of saving mankind.

Today, democracy is the best form of government, which only exists. But I strongly believe that the good should be with fists. While democracies are respecting the Minsk agreement, being engaged in peace talks, condemning, blaming, and being in “deep concern” state, civilians are being killed. Those ones who with weapons in their hands protect democracy and the state. This will go on until the good stays as spineless and helpless as it is.

Yesterday my latest visit to Israel started with a group of inter-parliamentary relations of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine with Israel.

From left to right: Honorary Consul of the State of Israel in Western region of Ukraine Oleg Vyshniakov, co-chairman of the parliamentary group of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of inter-parliamentary relations with the State of Israel Georgiy Longvinskiy, Minister of Defense of the Sate of Israel Avigdor Lieberman.

From left to right: Honorary Consul of the State of Israel in Western region of Ukraine Oleg Vyshniakov, Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein.

From left to right: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the State of Israel Hennadii Nadolenko, Honorary Consul of the State of Israel in Western region of Ukraine Oleg Vyshniakov.

From left to right: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the State of Israel Hennadii Nadolenko, Honorary Consul of the State of Israel in Western region of Ukraine Oleg Vyshniakov,  Minister of Immigration and Absorption Sofa Landver, MP of Ukraine, co-chairman of the parliamentary group of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of inter-parliamentary relations with the State of Israel Georgiy Longvinskiy.

From left to right: Deputy Chairman of the Knesset, co-chairman of the parliamentary group of the Knesset of inter-parliamentary relations with Ukraine Tali Ploskov, MP of Ukraine, co-chairman of the parliamentary group of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of inter-parliamentary relations with the State of Israel Georgiy Longvinskiy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the State of Israel Hennadii Nadolenko, Honorary Consul of the State of Israel in Western region of Ukraine Oleg Vyshniakov

I think this visit is one of the most successful and productive in the development of the Ukrainian-Israeli relations.

Yesterday’s main event was the news of the agreement between the governments of Ukraine and Israel about providing work positions for Ukrainian builders. Over a year our builders will be able to live, study and work in Israel on the general conditions with Israelis - with the appropriate social security and health insurance. An important fact is that their average salary will be about 2500 US dollars. The collaborative group of Ukrainian and Israeli experts on the basis of the State Employment Service will pick out employees for Israel. In order to apply for a job, you need to go to any of the regional center of employment, fill in the documents, submit a medical certificate and pass an appropriate examination. Then you can safely go to work in Israel. At the first stage, Israel has provided work positions for four specialties – they are specialists who work with building constructions and metals, and also tilers and plasterers.

There were also a number of meetings yesterday. In particular, our group of friendship, ministers, and diplomats visited the Israeli parliament: met with deputies, attended the plenary session. First, we were taken by the head of the parliamentary group of Israel-Ukraine Tali Ploskov. Mrs. Ploskov visited Ukraine repeatedly, knows and understands the perspectives of cooperation between our two countries, and is making great efforts to implement them.

Later I met with Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein, whom I don’t just know well, but also we have been friends for a long time. By right, I can call Mr. Edelstein a great friend of Ukraine. “We recognize the integrity of Ukraine and do not recognize any formations that have arisen in its territory”, - sounded Speaker of the Knesset Israel's position toward Ukraine.

Meeting with new Israel Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman was interesting and productive. Mr. Minister told, that Ukrainians and Israelis are in a similar situation, as well as they understand each other. I am confident that with the advece to the post of Defense Minister Mr. Lieberman will bring relations between Ukraine and Israel to the next level. This is shown by the willingness with which the Minister responded to reports of Israeli drones in occupied Donbass. Mr. Lieberman has promised our delegation to personally investigate the situation and to give a thorough answer.

Also our group had a meeting with Mrs. Sofa Landver – Minister of Immigration and Absorption, who is a frequent guest in Ukraine and who from the first hands knows about situation in the state. We have discussed repatriates’ integration program, talked about how to solve the problem of unemployment, and more.

The day was very busy, but very productive. I am pleased with the agreements reached and am confident that the business visit was another incentive to improve cooperation between Ukraine and Israel.

Recently I have told you about Israel, as a country in which people with disabilities can feel as comfortable as possible, because the cities, institutions and infrastructure are adapted for them.

Moreover, Israeli society is very tolerant to people with disabilities. Furthermore, Israel is constantly developing special computer programs that are designed to make life easier for people with physical problems. Israeli developers have invented gadgets for more widespread use.

So recently, two Israeli companies have won a grant from Google, with innovations specifically designed for people with disabilities. Their developments are intended to increase the availability of common things for people with disabilities.

The first development Makeathon-in-a-box is a gadget that will allow people with disabilities to operate a smartphone using head movements. Well, if you have a smartphone, the whole world is actually open and available. This innovation has received two grants – of $ 700 thousand and $ 1 million. “Makeathon-in-a-box” is a pattern for the group, which connects inventors and people with disabilities, so that they work together to find the innovation to achieve greater availability.

The second program that has received a grant from Google is the keyboard which is operated by eye movement. For its implementation the grant of $ 400 thousand is allocated. It is designed for people with limited mobility, which can not even use their voice to communicate. It just seems that such people are few, in fact, there are millions of them: in our country they are not talked about, and in Israel they are trying to make lives of the disabled more comfortable. Modern technologies particularly allow doing it. We must understand that for people with disabilities a smartphone is not just a phone with a notebook, but also a window into the world and is often almost the only means of communication.

This innovation is wonderful, but if a smartphone is available to everyone in Israel today, we have to get into debt to afford to buy it in Ukraine. If in Israel a mom with a baby is free to drive to the beach, go to the free playground, get down with a wheelchair user to the water, even in Kyiv to take a ride along the main streets in a wheelchair is a feat. I am not even talking about ordinary ramps, which are built only in modern buildings. Of course, every subway has two granite paths for downcoming of the disabled. But have you ever tried at least to put a wheelchair on it?

Good afternoon, friends!

Today I want to tell you about innovation based on Israeli technology, which our Ukrpost is introducing. Last week, the company presented a new service – the delivery of parcels using unmanned aerial devices.

The pilot launch of the first mail delivery drone took place on June, 1 in the town of Bucha of Kyiv region: the drone made the delivery of a parcel on an automatically specified address. The drone for this project was provided by the Israeli company Flytrex, specializing in the production of modern drones.

This “postman” flies at speeds up to 70 km\h. Ukrpost plans to deliver small loads weighing up to a kilogram on the area up to 80 square kilometers. In order to use this service in future, it is necessary just to download a special mobile appendix, specify the place and time when you want to take a parcel and wait for a marvelous postman. The arrived multicopter will hang over the specified place at the height of 16 meters and move down a parcel at a safe cable.

Today, drones are becoming part of everyday life: they are lightweight, mobile and easy to use, impassibility is not a barrier for them, and they are environmentally friendly. They are used in many areas of life, ranging from quick response desk and military services to children's toys. Not so long ago the Israeli army adopted multicopters to collect information: drones will be used by the police units instead of or along with helicopters.

Aerial devices proved themselves in civilian life: they were used to combat the poachers, to gather information during the riots and also during the exercises of rescue services. Nowadays the technologies are developing by leaps and norms of the consumer society are firmly rooted in the life of any person. A rhetorical question is whether it happens for better or worse, but it does. Today, you can live a full life without going out of the office or home: you can order food, clothing, and delivery of any product or item online.

Now, many will say that in the country where there is a war, it is rational to use the drones only at the front. But the peaceful life does not stop, and that's wonderful. Ukraine needs to adopt the latest technology, learn to use them in everyday life, Ukrainians have to “get used” to the highest international standards, just to understand what they are fighting for and aspiring to.

Today, ancient Jerusalem - the unique city of three religions, the capital of the State of Israel, the symbol of the revival of the Jewish people - celebrates the Day of the city.

Jerusalem of Gold

The history of the city could be traced back than 5000 years; for centuries hundreds of rulers have waged wars for control over the Holy City, but today it, as before, has returned under Israeli protection. This day symbolizes the historical connection of the Jewish people to Jerusalem.

The cultural, spiritual, historical and civilizational heritage of Jerusalem is difficult to describe in words. For centuries Jerusalem has been the center of the world for millions of people. Its history is the history of the development of mankind. The unique city keeps the memory of the great warriors and rulers, reformers, spiritual leaders, who have lived in it; it has managed to combine East and West, ancient and modern: Jews, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Ottomans, knights, kings, and monks lived there.

Jerusalem is one of the main symbols of the Jewish state and its capital. Hope for the return to Jerusalem and the revival of their state was the goal of the Jews over the past two thousand years. There are the following words in the Hatikva - the national anthem of Israel: “Our hope is not yet lost, the hope two thousand years old, to be a free nation in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem.”

The Day of the city is celebrated on the 28th of Iyar, which falls on June, 5 this year. In 1967, after the Six Day War, Jews regained control over the Old City of Jerusalem, where there are the Western Wall and Temple Mount. The liberation of the city was the culmination of not only the Six Day War, but the initial period of the history of the State of Israel. For the first time in two thousand years, the most sacred place of Jews fell under Jewish control.

Today, Jerusalem, as well as it was thousands years ago, is the capital of Israel. Rapidly developing, the city is the administrative and political centre of Israel: the Knesset works here, the official residence of the President, government ministries and the Chief Rabbinate are located here. Between all political forces of Israel there is an agreement that neither the unity nor the sovereignty of Jerusalem will ever be a subject of negotiations.

Modern Jerusalem provides the access to religious sites of all religious faiths - Jews, Christians and Muslims. Every year hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visit Jerusalem to kneel in the holy places. Each time, passing through the gate of the ancient city, I have totally unique feelings. Mix of millennial history and modernity, tolerance and bloody wars, spirituality and devastation at the same time - all these feelings are evoked by the walls of Jerusalem. It is impossible to describe in words the greatness of one of the oldest cities of human civilization, this city should be definitely seen with your own eyes at least once in life.

I extend my warmest congratulations not only to the citizens of Jerusalem, but to all Israelis on the Day of the capital and wish your ancient and beautiful city to stay as much again, glorifying the Jewish people!

David Tower

Via Dolorosa

Western Wall

Jewish cemetery on  the Mount Olivet

   Gethsemane

Church of the Holy Sepulchrе