Israeli President Shimon Peres paid a personal tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony to mark her Diamond Jubilee at the British ambassador’s residence in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould hosted the event with hundreds of attendees present, including MKs, regional mayors and leading figures from the Israel business, cultural and science worlds.
Peres praised the British monarch for marrying together “two candidates that would never marry – Monarchy and Democracy. Democracy dividing, Monarchy uniting”.
He continued to express his “deepest obligations and gratitude to a land that at time of agony gave us hope”, invoking the British mandate which paved the way for the formation of the Jewish State.
Reaffirming Britain’s ongoing commitment to close bilateral relations with Israel, Ambassador Gould spoke about increased trade between the two countries in spite of boycott activities, rising by 34%.
Referring to the Queen’s 60 year reign in Britain as a commitment to serving her country, he drew an analogy between her role in British society and the one which Peres occupies in Israel. “There are few people who can match her sixty years of service. But Mr. President, you are one. Your record of service to Israel is as long. The Queen was described today as “the unifying presence at the heart of British life”, you are today the unifying presence at the heart of Israeli life.”
Guests at the event were served British-themed food and entertainment. Students from Tel Aviv’s renowned Shenkar College of Fashion had designed a collection of crowns inspired by the Queen’s six-decade reign, which were on display at the event.
In further moves to highlight British-Israeli interaction, the celebration was sponsored by some of the leading British companies doing business in Israel.

EJP