According to the annual tradition a delegation from Israel was invited to Ukraine by the Jewish Agency for Israel.

As a rule the delegation includes representatives of the executive and legislative authorities, public and cultural figures.

To my opinion these visits are very important and productive. They help not only to get acquainted with the country, but also go into the activities of the Jewish organizations operating in Ukraine more deeply, to understand their problems and concerns.

The vice-speaker of the Knesset and the head of the delegation M.K. Meir Cohen, M.K. Hamad Amar, M.K. Nava Boker and M.K. Merial Ben Arias, Secretary General of the Jewish Agency for Israel Zhosch Schwartz, the Head of the speaker’s administration Albert Saharovich, Adviser of the Prime Minister on politic issues Kobe Tsoref, the member of staff of the Ministry of Interior in the State of Israel Lior Sugar and other officials visited Ukraine this year.

Most of the delegates visited Ukraine for the first time. Israeli politicians were impressed by the activities of the Jewish community.

I am very glad that I had the opportunity to show for such an honorable delegation the activity of the Honorary Consulate. We were able to discuss a number of initiatives. Their implementation will considerably strengthen the cooperation between Israel and the Western Ukraine.

The festive dinner organized by the Honorary Consulate in honor of Hanukkah except members of the Israeli delegation was visited by the head of the faction “Samopomich” and the deputy of Verkhovna Rada Oleh Bereziuk, the Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine on European Integration Rutytska Vladyslava and the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Science and education Lilia Grinevich. Ukrainian and Israeli politicians concurred in necessity of creating a free trade area, strengthening and expansion of cooperation in the social and cultural sphere.

At the beginning of the evening Rabbi Jonathan Markovich lit a hanukkah candle.