Deputy Israeli FM “Addressed Arab Leaders” – REALLY?

By Roee Ruttenberg November 15, 2011 | Edit

The following press release was distributed by the Israeli Government Press Office on Tuesday evening to all foreign press working in Israel:

Press Release (Communicated by the Bureau of Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon)

Deputy FM Ayalon Addresses Arab leaders at WATEC Conference: “Many times in the history of our region, water was a reason for conflict and bloodshed. Today, I want to change this equation, together with you to turn water into a bridge to peace.”

Today, 15 November 2011, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon opened WATEC 2011, the international conference on water technologies, renewable energy and environmental control. More than thirty heads of state and ministers as well as 150 business delegations have come to Israel to attend the conference.

DFM Ayalon said in his opening speech, “Israel is among the leading states in the world in water technologies and is willing to share its knowledge and experience with other countries so that together we can provide for the increasing needs of the world’s ever-growing population.”

During his speech, Ayalon addressed the leaders of the Arab states, reminding them that Israel’s hand, outstretched in peace, is not empty and that pooling our resources will benefit all of the people living in the Middle East. “Israel will benefit from a peace agreement, but you will also gain a genuine partner for development and the assured welfare of future generations in the region,” Ayalon said. “Unfortunately, many times in the history of the region, water was a reason for conflict and bloodshed. Today, I want to change this equation, together with you to turn water into a bridge to peace.”

“We, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are constantly looking at ways to conduct relations beyond traditional diplomacy. To this end, we conduct a form of Environmental Diplomacy and try to apply it also within our own region, here in the Middle East, and beyond.”

After the speech, DFM Ayalon met with Uganda’s Minister for Water, the Czech Minister of the Environment and Georgia’s Commissioner for Economic Development.

I would like to direct your attention to two parts of that to re-read:

More than thirty heads of state and ministers…have come to Israel to attend the conference.

And…

During his speech, Ayalon addressed the leaders of the Arab states.

One would assume that the Arab leaders were seated right there in the front row listening attentively. Clearly this would be a big news story, given Israel’s increasing regional and international isolation.

Following my request for clarification, Ashley Perry, an adviser to the foreign minister’s office, the body which prepared the communique, explained that no Arab leaders were actually present. Apparently, this was an “open call to Arab leaders.” At least the foreign ministry didn’t have mannequins sitting-in for them during the photo-op.

Roee Ruttenberg is a freelance journalist, producer, and television news correspondent. He has worked for ABC News, CCTV (Chinese Television) News, Al Jazeera English and ZDF German Television, as well as several other international news outlets. His writings have been published in Ha’aretz and The Jerusalem Post. He divides his time between Israel and the United States.

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