Israel’s government outlined today the importance of maintaining the relations with the jew communities to “improve Israel’s public image around the world”. The Israel chancery Latin America and Caribbean general director, Dorit Shavit, confirmed it to the Agencia Judia de Noticias (Jewish News Agency), who is staying in Buenos Aires as part of the committee that accompanies the Israeli minister of Public Relations and Diaspora Issues, Yuli Edelstein.
Shavit said that after visiting San Pablo (Brazil) and Buenos Aires, the Israeli committee will travel to Montevideo and to Santiago de Chile to close the tour in Bogotá, Colombia, where they will attend the inauguration of the elected president Juan Manuel Santos. “Although the tour has just begun, it is, so far, very successful. The minister (Edelstein) is quite honest and open to the jew communities and is working as minister of the Public and Diaspora Information”, explained Shavit. She also outlined the importance of working with the jew community to “deliver Israel’s information”.
To Israel’s government, according to the civil servant, “it is very important to consult with others to analyse the situation and improve the bond community”. “The only way of improving the public image is relating to the communities and attending to these meetings that are very successful and will continue”, she added.
At the same time, Shavit considered that “it is not enough to participate only once of one seminar” to guarantee the jew community relationships. That’s why she pointed out the need of keeping Diaspora Israel’s programs as well as the meetings and consults with the communities.
In regard to Israel’s public image, Shavit said that “all nations support Israel’s right to defend itself”, but admitted that there are governments that “don’t understand the situation” that is lived in Middle East.
“Israel’s government has every right to defend its nation and is it is its duty to protect its citizens”, she said.
Shavit also said that “the most important thing for the prime minister, Benjamín Netanyahu, is to restart the direct negotiations with the Palestinian Authority”. But, he said that “the situation isn’t easy because each side has its conditions”.