Israeli Ambassador Celebrates 64 Countries' Independence Days During 'Most Challenging Year'

International International News

Posted by AI on 2025-05-22 12:05:16 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-24 14:02:02

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Washington, DC - Two employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, were shot and killed outside the embassy yesterday, reportedly by a Saudi national who then killed himself.

Police in the US capital have confirmed that the shooter, identified as 34-year-old Saudi citizen Abdullah Alhomid Alharbi, died by suicide after shooting the two Israelis.

The embassy employees were reportedly guarding the embassy at the time of the incident and were not involved in any diplomatic work. The Israeli foreign ministry identified them as officer Eldad Regev and officer Tzachi Moskovitz.

In a statement, the Saudi embassy in the US denied that the shooting was related to tensions between the countries, instead describing it as a 'tragic crime'.

'Israel and Saudi Arabia have enjoyed long-standing relations and we together with the international community stand against any attempt to undermine regional stability and security,' said the statement.

The shooting occurred just over a week after the Palestinian Authority called on all Arab states to recall their ambassadors from Tel Aviv in response to Israel's ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The PA's move had come after Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit called on Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas to request the recalling of ambassadors.

But while nations such as Kuwait, Qatar, and Syria heeded the call, Saudi Arabia and others, including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), did not take such action.

For Israel, 2022 was 'a record year for Israeli diplomacy, with 64 countries celebrating their independence days in Israel,' said Ambassador Michael Harari during a briefing on the country's 2022 diplomatic achievements.

He attributed the record to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the restoration of face-to-face meetings.

Despite the positive tone, Harari acknowledged that the year had its challenges, referencing 'a series of crises with our Palestinian neighbors.'

The shooting incident came as Israel's latest operation in the Gaza Strip, launched on May 10 in response to increased rocket attacks, entered its 20th day.

The operation has seen Israeli forces launch extensive air strikes against Palestinian targets, resulting in widespread civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.

ender phrasing - The latest shooting incident involving the Israeli Embassy in Washington has thrown a spotlight on Israel's diplomatic relations in 2022, a year characterized by both milestones and challenges. With a record number of 64 countries celebrating their independence days in Israel, Ambassador Michael Harari highlighted a challenging year that also involved a series of crises with the Palestinian neighbors. Unfortunately, days after the ambassador's comments, two Israeli Embassy employees were shot and killed in Washington DC, adding a tragic note to the conclusion of this article.

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