The 77th anniversary of the Independence of the State of Israel was celebrated in Kyiv
Celebrations on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the State of Israel took place in the capital of Ukraine and were attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, Ukrainian authorities, the Jewish community, artists and friends of Israel from different regions of Ukraine.
"Thank you for joining us today to celebrate the 77th anniversary of Israel's independence," Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel to Ukraine Michael Brodsky addressed the guests.
He emphasised the deep historical and mental connection between the Ukrainian and Israeli peoples. "There are few countries in the world that understand each other better than Israel and Ukraine. On 24 February 2022, from the first day of Russian aggression, the people of Israel supported Ukraine. On 7th October, when the horrific terrorist attack on Israel took place, the people of Ukraine unequivocally supported our country. We feel this support and highly appreciate it," the diplomat said.
According to him, the peoples of both states "are acutely aware of the high price we have to pay for our independence" and "live in hope for a speedy end to the war and peaceful life". "I am confident that, no matter what, we will cope with our problems. That despite wars and terror, our countries will remain free and independent," he said.
The diplomat also mentioned the historical figure of the fourth Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir, who was born in Kyiv. "Many of her quotes sound very modern today. I want to remind you of one of her statements: pessimism is a luxury that Jews can never afford. This fully applies to Ukrainians as well," Brodsky declared.
Israel's Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut) is celebrated according to the Jewish calendar on 5th Iyar (in 2025 - 13 May). It was on this day in 1948 that David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the independent State of Israel in Tel Aviv after the end of the British Mandate in Palestine. The very next day, the newly created state was attacked by neighbouring Arab countries, which marked the beginning of the War of Independence. Since then, Israel annually celebrates this date as a symbol of the victory, survival and national revival of the Jewish people.