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| Israel's Ambassador to Tonga, HE Shemi Tzur |
By Tevita Motulalo
ISRAEL’S Ambassador accredited to Tonga, HE Mr. Shemi Tzur says he will return to Tonga next week with the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament or Knesset, Reuven Rivlin, on a first official tour of Tonga.
“I am coming back next week with something very, very important with the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament visiting officially Tonga,” revealed Tzur in an exclusive interview with Tonga Chronicle last week.
It will be the first official tour of Tonga by an Israeli Speaker of Parliament, and for Rivlin. He will be the highest official of the Israeli government to ever visit Tonga.
Tonga and Israel are very close friends, according Tzur, and the last King, Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, solidified the relationship, and even the present monarch in their frequent visits to Israel.
Tzur is Israel’s Ambassador to New Zealand, now also accredited to Cook Is, Niue, Samoa, and Tonga.
He arrived Monday last week and presented his credentials to His Majesty, and met senior officials of the Tongan government including the Speaker of Parliament Lord Lasike, Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu, and Health Minister Hon. ‘Uliti Uata.
Speaking to the Tonga Chronicle, Tzur says Israel and Tonga are natural friends with huge prospects in development cooperation, specifically in the areas of health, agriculture, and energy.
“These fields, Israel is very advanced in them and we really want to share that experience with the friendly Kingdom of Tonga,” said Ambassador Tzur.
“Of course we have to discuss it with the Ministries. It’s a process but since now our Embassy is closer, now we are based in Wellington, its very near, we can start building cooperation and we do hope you will see and feel it as soon as possible,” he said. He seemed charmed by the hospitality given him.
“I spoke to the ministries, and a very nice audience with His Majesty yesterday.
Wherever I go I feel the people are very friendly towards Israel and I really feel like I want to give that friendship back, in those certain areas we can give that friendship back,” said Tzur as he spoke to Tonga Chronicle last Wednesday.
“[People] are very friendly, very nice. I really was very moved, very encouraged. I’ve met so many people here, so friendly and welcoming.
“Many people know about Israel, about the Holy Land, about the Jewish culture and they know that we are a friendly country and this gives you a great feeling that you’re coming to a really friendly country,” he said.
Of the last of his stops in Tonga before leaving Wednesday night was a visit to the Baha’i Community’s national centre in Kolofo’ou, which has its headquarters in Haifa Israel and a major tourist destination for pilgrims.
Ambassador Tzur has participated in Middle East peace talks in the 1990s, and has held diplomatic posts in South Africa, Turkey, Australia, Fiji and Uzbekistan.
Previously being Israel’s Ambassador to Cyprus, Finland and Estonia, he has also held the personal rank of Ambassador since April 2006.
“I am coming back next week with something very, very important with the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament visiting officially Tonga,” revealed Tzur in an exclusive interview with Tonga Chronicle last week.
It will be the first official tour of Tonga by an Israeli Speaker of Parliament, and for Rivlin. He will be the highest official of the Israeli government to ever visit Tonga.
Tonga and Israel are very close friends, according Tzur, and the last King, Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, solidified the relationship, and even the present monarch in their frequent visits to Israel.
Tzur is Israel’s Ambassador to New Zealand, now also accredited to Cook Is, Niue, Samoa, and Tonga.
He arrived Monday last week and presented his credentials to His Majesty, and met senior officials of the Tongan government including the Speaker of Parliament Lord Lasike, Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu, and Health Minister Hon. ‘Uliti Uata.
Speaking to the Tonga Chronicle, Tzur says Israel and Tonga are natural friends with huge prospects in development cooperation, specifically in the areas of health, agriculture, and energy.
“These fields, Israel is very advanced in them and we really want to share that experience with the friendly Kingdom of Tonga,” said Ambassador Tzur.
“Of course we have to discuss it with the Ministries. It’s a process but since now our Embassy is closer, now we are based in Wellington, its very near, we can start building cooperation and we do hope you will see and feel it as soon as possible,” he said. He seemed charmed by the hospitality given him.
“I spoke to the ministries, and a very nice audience with His Majesty yesterday.
Wherever I go I feel the people are very friendly towards Israel and I really feel like I want to give that friendship back, in those certain areas we can give that friendship back,” said Tzur as he spoke to Tonga Chronicle last Wednesday.
“[People] are very friendly, very nice. I really was very moved, very encouraged. I’ve met so many people here, so friendly and welcoming.
“Many people know about Israel, about the Holy Land, about the Jewish culture and they know that we are a friendly country and this gives you a great feeling that you’re coming to a really friendly country,” he said.
Of the last of his stops in Tonga before leaving Wednesday night was a visit to the Baha’i Community’s national centre in Kolofo’ou, which has its headquarters in Haifa Israel and a major tourist destination for pilgrims.
Ambassador Tzur has participated in Middle East peace talks in the 1990s, and has held diplomatic posts in South Africa, Turkey, Australia, Fiji and Uzbekistan.
Previously being Israel’s Ambassador to Cyprus, Finland and Estonia, he has also held the personal rank of Ambassador since April 2006.
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