Shalom to the Holy Land: 75 Years of Israel

Israel celebrated the 75th anniversary of its independence today. Bright times to be proud, but also needed time to resolve challenges.

Israel celebrated the 75^th anniversary of its independence on Tuesday night and Wednesday. Many celebrations in Israel were marked by reflections on the challenges Israel faces.

Tourism is connected to peace, and Israel has often benefited from this fact.

In contrast, some celebrations outside of Israel were possible only because of diplomatic advances that would have been unimaginable at Israel’s founding.

The Media Line spoke with Israeli diplomats, authors, and a Jewish American celebrating Israeli Independence Day who is involved in new and exciting happenings around Israel’s diamond anniversary.

Israelis Celebrate in the Gulf States

With the signing of the Abraham Accords that initiated diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, the Israeli Consulate in Dubai opened its doors in January 2021. Liron Zaslansky has been serving as the consul general since August 2022. Previously, she held Foreign Ministry posts in Israel, Belgium, India, Germany, and Costa Rica.

 “We will have our first two official events to celebrate Independence Day.

The Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi will host one, and one by us, by the consulate general here in Dubai.

We are planning two big celebrations as it should be for the 75th anniversary of the State of Israel, and it’s very special to have that occasion here in the UAE,” Consul General Zaslansky told The Media Line.

The two events will happen next Thursday and the Thursday after that.

“On every occasion we have had, we are getting a lot of positive responses because there is a lot of curiosity about what Israel is and what Israel is all about,” she said.

“For example, back in November, we had an event with an Israeli singer and the responses were very positive.

They said, ‘Wow, you have wonderful music; we didn’t know!’ This is part of our efforts to have as much exposure as possible to Israeli culture here in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.”

Zaslansky said there was virtually no pushback against the Abraham Accords among Emiratis due to political developments in Israel and that “we feel welcome.”

During Ramadan, she hosted an Iftar at her house, which the Emirati guests very well received. “We are building real friendships here,” according to the Consul General.

“The most special thing about the UAE is that it is a place that makes you feel welcome and at home very quickly, no matter where you came from,” she explained.

“They can make it a home for such a varied population. It’s very admirable; what the leadership is doing is outstanding.”

The consul general said that while Israelis residing in the Emirates are not obligated to register with the Israeli Embassy or Consulate General, “My estimation is that about 1,000 to 2,000 Israelis are living in the UAE.”

Looking toward the celebratory events for Israel’s Independence Day, Zaslansky says, “We will have a live performance by an Israeli artist which I will not disclose—a very prominent and rooted Israeli one in Hebrew. We are going to have Israeli-style food, Israeli wine, [the Israeli snack food] Bamba, and we’re going to have cotton candy and try to make it as Israeli as we can.”

About 300 miles from Dubai and 1,000 miles from Israel, an Independence Day celebration was being prepared in Bahrain, one of Israel’s newest diplomatic partners.

The event, set to feature a barbeque and a musical show, will be the second celebration of Israel’s independence held in the country, less than three years after Israel and Bahrain normalized relations through the US-mediated Abraham Accords.

Israeli Ambassador to Bahrain Eitan Na’eh has been Israel’s ambassador to Bahrain for the past two years. Before that, he served in diplomatic positions in the UAE, Turkey, the UK, Azerbaijan, the US, and the Foreign Ministry in Israel.

Ambassador Na’eh told The Media Line that a small barbeque at the diplomatic residence was planned for Wednesday, while a more significant celebration would be held in late May. That event will feature Israeli food and dancing performances for hundreds of guests.

“Guests will be from a growing list of contacts that we have developed in the year and a half that we are here. Government, academia, press, many business people, friends, and Israelis will come specially to celebrate with us,” Na’eh said.

Na’eh said that Bahrain-Israel relations have improved even in the 2 ½ years since he began his position.

He noted that more Bahrainis, especially businesspeople, have been visiting Israel in the past year.