Nepal-Israel relations at people-to-people expanding

Relations between Nepal and Israel at the people-to-people level are being expanded lately, asserted the experts of diplomacy.

The increasing number of visits people to each other countries after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Israel in 1960 has further strengthened the friendly ties between the two countries that are based on mutual respect, goodwill, trust, cooperation, and understanding, they said.

Speaking at an interaction organized by the Nepal Council of World Affairs here on Wednesday, the participants, mostly the experts in diplomacy univocally admitted that cooperation and collaboration were becoming stronger between the two countries in the areas of agriculture, health, and education among other sectors since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

On the occasion, Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Hanan Goder remarked that though Israel and Nepal are far from each other, the relationship between the two nations was quite close and unique.

Stating that the two nations enjoy similarities in many areas, Israeli ambassador Goder viewed that the increasing visits of people between the two countries had aided in further expanding the ties at the people-to-people level.

Reminiscing the high-level Israel visits made by King Mahendra, King Birendra, and the erstwhile Prime Ministers BP Koirala and Girija Prasad Koirala in the wake of the establishment of bilateral ties between the two countries, the Israeli enjoy also shared that the Israeli delegation had also made many high-level visits to Nepal.

He shared that Israel and Nepal record several instances of coordination and cooperation on various bilateral issues at international forums.

Similarly, Dr. Shambu Raj Simkhada, President of Nepal-Israel Former Ambassador Club, credited the farsightedness of erstwhile political leadership for the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the relation between the two countries being maintained continuously as well as stronger since then.

Council's President Hemanta Kharel said that the Nepali people had been proud of becoming the only nation in this region to recognize the existence of Israel and complement it with diplomatic ties.

He commended Israeli assistance in various sectors such as training, scholarship, agricultural management, and education and praised the country for providing Israeli experts to Nepal in those areas.

The experts of diplomacy held their respective viewpoints on various aspects and dynamics of Nepal-Israel ties and expressed their expectation that it would assume a new height by the dent of collective efforts of the government and people of both countries.

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