Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday received the diplomatic credentials of four new ambassadors, Greece’s Maria Solomou, El Salvador’s Héctor Enrique Celarié Landaverde, Ecuador’s Héctor Enrique Celarié Landaverde and Costa Rica’s Antonio Ignacio López Escarré.
In his meetings, the president stressed the imperative of returning the hostages from the Gaza Strip and noted the importance of Tuesday’s meeting in Washington between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump.
“It is a beautiful expression of the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel and Israel and the United States, and it’s a beautiful expression of the deep commitment and affection of President Trump to the State of Israel and its well-being and security,” said Herzog.
“I think that the fact that both leaders discussed the hostage deal [with Hamas] and the need to complete the deal, especially the commitment of President Trump to bringing all our hostages back home, is a very important statement. We must do whatever we can to bring our hostages back home until the last one returns home. It is the most important topic in our national psyche, and I hope and pray we will see more and more hostages returning home as soon as possible,” continued the president.
“Their discussion was also very important as it relates to the further inclusion of Israel in the region. And I hope to be able to see many more Arab countries join the circle of peace with Israel in our region, making a historic change. This has to be coupled with the fact that we must block Iran and its terrible plans and its heinous activities through its proxies all throughout the region, against Israel and against Jews all over the world,” added Herzog.