Since the opening of our offices in Taipei and Tel Aviv in 1993, Israel and Taiwan have maintained close cooperation to promote common development, particularly in the areas of trade, academia and culture. Since arriving in Taipei as Israel’s representative in summer last year, I have recognized the unique bond between our two peoples.
On a personal note, I have been deeply impressed by the Taiwanese people’s values and moral principles, often rooted in traditions dating far back, as well as based on our mutual liberal democratic way of living. Much like the Jewish people, Taiwan places great importance on education, freedom, family ties and tradition. These shared values lead us to similar conclusions as we look at the complex environment of the Middle East.
Against the backdrop of Iran’s large-scale ballistic missile attacks on Israel in recent weeks and its continued aggression against Israel across the Middle East — including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis — Israel highly values Taiwan’s clear position in differentiating between the actions of terrorists and the self-defense measures taken by the world’s only Jewish state.
I feel that Israel’s urgent need to defend itself and its fight for existence is well understood by the Taiwanese people.
Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has never sought war. We have made repeated efforts to pursue peace with Palestine and our Arab neighbors, offering peace proposals.
Yet, despite Israel’s efforts to advance the peace process in the region and prioritize the sanctity of life, extremist forces seeking death and destruction still exist, aiming to erase the Jewish people from Israel — our ancestral homeland.
In recent weeks, Jews have once again been reminded of their millennia-old history. This month, Jews around the world celebrated the Jewish New Year, marking the year 5785 in the Hebrew calendar. For people who have survived for thousands of years, many existential threats and dangers have had to be overcome. The biggest of those threats was the Holocaust, yet this year, once again, the Jewish people are forced to stand up and fight for their survival.
Although recent media attention has focused on the worrying situation in Lebanon, Hezbollah has not ceased its attacks on Israel from Lebanese bases for over a year. There is also an immediate need to free the 101 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. We must not forget them.
As we mark one year since the war broke out, I have no doubt that the Jewish people would overcome the current dangers in the Middle East and continue to thrive. Our office remains committed to fulfilling the vision of bilateral exchanges in various fields and further enhancing relations between Israel and Taiwan.
I firmly believe that, with the continuous support of the Taiwanese people, we can build a brighter, more peaceful future for all.
Maya Yaron is the representative of Israel to Taiwan.
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