Herzog welcomes five ambassadors in Jerusalem

Herzog, when greeting the Dutch diplomat, he addressed the growing tensions between the two nations.

By JNS

President Isaac Herzog on Monday received the diplomatic credentials of the new ambassadors to Israel of Austria, France, Ghana, the Netherlands, and Rwanda in a series of ceremonies at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

In turn, the president received the credentials of Rwanda’s Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bayingana, France’s Christophe Parisot, Austria’s Arad Benkö, the Netherlands’ Stella Ronner-Grubačić, and Ghana’s Evelyn Korantemaa Ofosu-Amable as they took up their posts, according to the presidency.

Sitting next to the Rwandan diplomat, Herzog highlighted the warm friendship and growing cooperation between the African nation and the Jewish state in many fields, including innovation, agriculture, development, and education.

President @Isaac_Herzog received the diplomatic credentials of the new Ambassador of Rwanda to Israel, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bayingana, at the President’s Residence this morning.

President Herzog highlighted the warm friendship and growing cooperation between Israel and Rwanda in many fields, including innovation, agriculture, development, and education.

— Office of the President of Israel (@IsraelPresident) October 26, 2026

Herzog and Parisot discussed the significant historical ties between Israel and France, the presidency said.

The head of state affirmed the “importance of overcoming the challenges in these relations, reinvigorating bilateral ties across a range of fields, and building a new path forward.”

President @Isaac_Herzog received the diplomatic credentials of France’s new Ambassador to Israel, Christophe Parisot, at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem today.

They discussed the significant historical ties between Israel and France. President Herzog affirmed the importance of overcoming the challenges in these relations, reinvigorating bilateral ties across a range of fields, and building a new path forward.

— Office of the President of Israel (@IsraelPresident) October 26, 2026

Speaking with the Austrian envoy, Herzog expressed appreciation for the warm friendship between the two countries, as well as their close cooperation in innovation, science, technology, trade, tourism, and security.

He commended Austria’s ongoing commitment to the fight against antisemitism and to Holocaust remembrance, the presidency noted.

President @Isaac_Herzog welcomed the new Ambassador of Austria to Israel, Arad Benkö.

President Herzog expressed his appreciation for the warm friendship between Israel and Austria and their close cooperation in innovation, science, technology, trade, tourism, and security.

The President also commended Austria’s ongoing commitment to the fight against antisemitism and Holocaust remembrance.

— Office of the President of Israel (@IsraelPresident) October 26, 2026

Herzog then greeted the Dutch diplomat and addressed the tensions between the two nations.

“These are trying times in the relations between Israel and the Netherlands. We are worried about what we see and hear from public opinion and from the government in the Netherlands. There is an onslaught on Israel without understanding our role in defending Europe and the fact that Israel is a vibrant democracy,” Herzog said, according to the presidency.

He recounted, “I had the pleasure of meeting with His Majesty King Willem-Alexander a few years ago, and he has expressed throughout a clear moral voice against antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiments.”

In addition, the president received the diplomatic credentials of Ghana’s new ambassador, during which he highlighted the potential to deepen their countries’ ties, including in the fields of agriculture, technology, healthcare, and water management, as well as the importance of deepening Israel’s relations with countries across Africa.