By Pesach Benson • April 22, 2026
Jerusalem, 22 April, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel marked its 78th Independence Day amid a continued emphasis on strengthening its international partnerships and expanding cooperation in fields ranging from innovation, trade, education, and more.
The Press Service of Israel invited foreign embassies in Israel to mark the occasion by sharing statements on their relations with Israel and outlook for the year ahead. Responses were received from Panama, Paraguay, the Philippines, Romania, and Cyprus.
Paraguay’s Ambassador, Alejandro Rubin, responded, “From the very beginning, Paraguay stood with Israel, supporting the birth of the Jewish State through its vote in the 1947 UN Partition Plan. Today that historic bond is reflected in Paraguay’s diplomatic presence in Jerusalem, and our bilateral relationship will continue to grow stronger in friendship and cooperation.”
Paraguay is widely expected to join the Isaac Accords, an Israeli-Argentine framework aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between Israel and Latin America similarly to the Abraham Accords. Paraguayan President Santiago Peña inaugurated the South American country’s embassy in Jerusalem in 2024.
Philippine Ambassador Aileen Mendiola said, “On behalf of the Philippine Embassy and the Filipino community in Israel, I extend our warmest greetings and congratulations on the 78th Independence Day of Israel. We value the enduring friendship between our two nations and look forward to strengthening our partnership through closer cooperation and people-to-people ties.”
Among the 20 people killed in Iranian missile strikes in 2026 was Mary Ann Velasquez De Vera, the First casualty in Israel when barrages began on March 1. The 32-year-old Filipino caregiver was killed in Tel Aviv while helping the elderly woman she worked for make her way to safety.
Cypriot Ambassador Kornelios Korneliou replied, “On the occasion of the Independence Day of the State of Israel, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the people of Israel and wishes for peace and prosperity ahead. This moment celebrates the close and dynamic partnership between Cyprus and Israel, based on friendship and mutual trust, contributing to stability and cooperation in the region.”
Energy cooperation, particularly offshore natural gas reserves, is a major element of Israeli-Cypriot bilateral ties.
Panama’s Ambassador to Israel, Ezra Cohen, responded, “On the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the State of Israel, the Embassy of Panama extends its warmest congratulations and best wishes to the people and Government of Israel, celebrating a nation defined by resilience, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to progress. Looking ahead, we envision strengthened Israel–Panama relations in innovation, education, and trade.”
In the economic sphere, an Israeli-Panamanian free trade agreement went into effect in 2020. Israel is the only Middle Eastern country with which Panama has a formal free trade agreement, making it a unique economic bridge. For Israel, the agreement enhances its economic reach into Latin America by leveraging Panama’s role as a global shipping and services gateway.
Romanian Ambassador Radu Ioanid said, “As Israel celebrates 78 years of existence, the true friendship between Romania and Israel is mirrored also in the fact that we are celebrating 78 years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations. As Romanian Ambassador to Israel for more than six years, I can say that I witnessed very hard times for the Israeli people, but also its remarkable endurance and resilience.”
Ioanid added that bilateral relations are “built on historical bonds between Romanians and Israelis, on families’ stories, on shared values, and on experiences of real people.”
An estimated 400,000 Israelis are believed to be of Romanian descent. Romanian Jews were prominent in pre-state immigration, establishing some of the earliest agricultural communities in the 1880s.
Related Topics
