Israel’s Royal Guest 25-28 June 2018
Souvenir supplement of Prince William’s historic tour of the Jewish state
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Jewish News 28 June 2018
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Welcomes HRH Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge on his visit to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre Tuesday, 26 June 2018
Phone: 020 8359 1146 Email: office@yadvashem.org.uk www.yadvashem.org.uk www.guardianofthememory.org
@yadvashemukfoundation @yadvashemukfoundation @yadvashemUK
28 June 2018 Jewish News
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Prince William in Israel
The prince of peace By Justin Cohen in Israel @JewishNewsUK
PrinceWilliamkickedoffthisweek’shistoricvisit to Israel in Jerusalem, where he met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin. The president called on William to take with him “a message of peace” when he met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas later in his visit. He added: “It’s about time together we find the way to build confidence as a first step to bring to an end the tragedy between us.” It was the first time in the trip, which broadly focused on meeting ordinary people, that the conflict was publicly broached. Speaking at his official residence during a meeting with the duke and his small delegation, Rivlin said: “I know you are going to meet President Abbas. I would like you to send him a message of peace and tell him it is about time that we have to find together the way to build confidence.” He added: “Build confidence as a first step to bring to understanding that we have to bring to an end the tragedy between us that goes along for more than 120 years.” In unexpected public remarks before the
Prince William with Reuven Rivlin
pair held talks away from the cameras, the Israeli president welcomed the second in line to the throne “from the bottom of our hearts”. Their meeting – during the opening day of the first official royal visit to the country – followed talks with Netanyahu. After telling his guest he was “writing a new page in history” with the landmark trip, Rivlin said: “We have had a lot of kings and princes in the history of Jerusalem, but you are the first to come not just as a prince but a pilgrim to the holy land.” He also paid tribute to the British legacy in the region, telling the prince: “We adopted most of the traditions you left and we really appreciate the connection between our two people and two states; the cooperation, the trade between us, and the friendship.” But the football fanatic decried the fact Israel had not managed to emulate the Premiership. He delighted in recalling to the Duke – who later presented him with a shirt of his beloved Liverpool – the Israelis who played for the club. Rivlin also asked him to pass on his best wishes to the Queen and Prince Charles, who has twice visited the residence. The prince said he was looking forward to “understanding more about the region and hoping peace in the area can be achieved”. He added: “I’m looking forward to really understanding and absorbing the issues, cultures and religions of the region, culminating in a visit to the Old City, which I’m very much looking forward to.” Referring to his earlier visit to Yad Vashem, he said he had learnt “quite a lot more than I thought I knew about the true horrors” of the Shoah. The duke’s visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories is the first time a member of the Royal Family has travelled to the areas at the request of the government, and
The Duke of Cambridge meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara at his official residence in Jerusalem, as part of the prince’s tour of the Middle East
was something he was keen to do. It comes during a period of tension in the area. Dozens of Palestinians, mostly terrorists, have been killed by Israeli forces during pro-
tests this year at the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip in the run-up to celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of Israel.
IT’S IN YOUR HANDS
Royal visit a shrewd move BY JAMES SORENE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, BICOM
The moment finally arrived after decades of waiting, spurious snubs and the uncomfortable unanswered question of why the royal family has never visited Israel. Prince William’s Middle East tour was a diplomatic triumph because his warmth, empathy and natural charm shone through. He is not a politician so was not expected to engage in high politics or offer political solutions. Senior diplomats who designed his itinerary produced the perfect mix of charities, tech, statecraft and sport. The decision to visit Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories was a shrewd solution from a British foreign policy establishment fixated with balance and even-handedness. Visiting all three places allowed a joint celebration and sent two important messages; that this triangular relationship holds the key to a better future for Israelis, Palestinians
and Jordanians, and the UK is a steadfast ally offering aid, political and military support. Many have asked why it took so long and why now. It is often said that a visit was vetoed until a comprehensive peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians could be agreed. Or that a visit to Israel would cause ruptures with Arab states so vital to trade and defence sales. The truth is that the world has changed. Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE are edging closer to Israel in their drive for economic reform and their fight against Iran. For the UK, close ties to Israel are an asset in this sphere, not a problem. Israel has also changed. Its booming economy, impressive innovation and world leading high-tech sector make it a vital partner for post-Brexit Britain. Prince William wielded immense soft power this week to cement UK-Israel relations. For Israel, this was a glorious blend of royal warrant and kosher stamp rolled into one – an experience that will live on for many decades to come.
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Jewish News 28 June 2018
Prince William in Israel
MESSAGE OF HOPE
Prince William visits a school in Jalazone Refugee Camp, north of Ramallah
Prince William has said he can “only imagine the difficulties of life” faced by Palestinians – as he told them: “You are not forgotten.” The comments came in his final speech of his historic Middle East tour at the residence of the British Consul in Jerusalem. Earlier, he held talks with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and met with grassroots Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, where he enjoyed traditional food and entertainment. He said: “I saw at Jalazone (near Ramallah) the hardships faced by refugees, and I can only imagine the difficulties of life lived under these conditions, the limited resources and the lack of opportunity.” And he vowed: “You have not been forgotten. It has been a very powerful experience to meet you and other Palestinians living in the West Bank, and to hear your stories. I hope that, through my being here and understanding the challenges you face, the links of friendship and mutual respect between the Palestinian and British people will grow stronger.” He described it as a “great pleasure” to be in Jerusalem for the reception – but stayed clear of any mention of occupied territory. And, notably, he repeated the same sentence used at the British ambassador’s reception: “I share a desire with all of you, and with your neighbours, for a just and lasting peace.” While the story of the Palestinians was often told through the sole lens of conflict, he insisted, the visit had enabled him to see a side of culture that was “ joyful”. He said: “Your rich traditions of scholarship live on in the importance you attach to education. I know how much we in the United Kingdom benefit from the many Chevening scholars and other bright young Palestinians who study in Britain. And I was delighted to know what value you, too, place on these exchanges.” He added: “I am also struck by how many people in the region want a just and lasting peace. This is only too evident among the young people I have met, who long for a new chapter to be written in the history of this region – a chapter which will secure them a prosperous future and will ensure that their enormous talents can flourish. These are not extravagant aspirations, but the same aspirations of young people everywhere.” Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas told the Duke of Cambridge he hopes his homeland
will be a fully independent state the next time he returns to the Middle East. The prince made history with his visit to the offices of the PA president, becoming the first member of the monarchy to make an official trip to the occupied Palestinian Territories on behalf of the UK Government. The men sat down for talks a day after the prince was tasked by Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin with taking a “message of peace” in a bid to rekindle relationship with the Arab leader. Abbas said: “Your royal highness Prince William, it is my honour to receive you in Palestine for your first visit. I hope this will not be the last visit… that your next will be in the state of Palestine when we have our independence. “Your royal highness, your visit to us will deepen and strengthen the ties between our two peoples. We are always in need of your constant support… in our just cause which has taken a long, long, long time and is not solved.” Abbas’ comments are consistent with his position on the long-term resolution to the decades-old conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. He told the prince: “On this occasion, your royal highness, allow me to specify two things – number one, my full commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace based on a two-state solution where the state of Palestine lives side by side with the state of Israel, with both supervising peace and security. This is our position, I reiterate it today, this will not change… “We are fully committed, your highness, along with you (to do) our best to fight terrorism, whether domestically, regionally and internationally. Therefore we have agreements with many nations on earth, including yours, to fight terrorism and I’m sure that this will be one of our subjects for discussion. In response, Prince William thanked Abbas for his welcome and revealed his hopes for “peace for the region”.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas shakes hands with the prince in Ramallah
JORDAN’S REFUGEE WELCOME PRAISED Prince William has hailed Jordan’s decision to give refuge to more than 600,000 fleeing war in Syria – along with Palestinian refugees – as “remarkable”. The Duke of Cambridge was speaking at a birthday party for the Queen at the residence of Britain’s Ambassador in Jordan, at the end of the first day of his Middle East tour. In a speech punctuated by greetings in Arabic, he said: “The way in which you opened your doors to hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria, not to mention your longstanding commitments to
Palestinian refugees, is remarkable. You should be enormously proud of what you have done. In so many ways, Jordan, as an open and stable society, is a beacon of hope for many other people in the Middle East.” He also read a message from the Queen in which she hailed Jordan as “a staunch and long-held friend”. The second in line to the throne spoke of the long standing bonds between the two royal families, which he vowed to continue to strengthen, and said the UK “treasures enormously” links between the countries’ militaries.
28 June 2018 Jewish News
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Prince William in Israel
‘An unimaginable loss’ Prince William paid tribute to his great-grandmother, Princess Alice, for her role in saving six Jews during the Holocaust, writes Justin Cohen. His tribute came in a message for the guestbook at Holocaust museum Yad Vashem, which he toured on the opening morning of his historic visit. He said he had “learnt a lot” during the hour and a half visit. Accompanied by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Yad Vashem chairman Yehuda Avner, the duke was earlier shown an album of images taken by the Nazis within Auschwitz and piles of shoes from victims of the Majdanek concentration camp. “It’s terrifying,” he said. “To comprehend the scale and numbers is terrible.” He paused in silence in the Hall of Names, where he looked up to take in pictures of men, women and children murdered by the Nazis, pointing out one wedding picture. While Yad Vashem has identified more than twothirds of the six million Jews murdered at the hands of the Nazis, the Hall has left empty shelves in recognition of the fact that many will forever remain unidentified. Continually asking questions and fixed with furrowed eyebrows, he uttered quietly “so sad” as he left the room with Mirvis. But the visit provided
an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the heroics of his relative for the first time, 25 years after she was honoured as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. Princess Alice, mother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, hid the three members of the Cohen family – Rachel, Tilda and Michelle – in her palace in Athens during the Nazi occupation of Greece. Princess Alice – whose grave in Jerusalem the prince will visit for the first time on his final day in the region – personally saw to it that the members of the persecuted Jewish family had everything they needed, and even visited them in their hiding place, spending many hours in their company. Writing in the guestbook at the end of the tour, the duke said: “Every name, photograph and memory recorded is a tragic reminder of the unimaginable human cost of the Holocaust and the immense loss suffered. “The story of the Holocaust is one of darkness and despair, questioning humanity itself. But the actions of those few who took great risks to help others are a reminder of the
Prince William lays a memorial wreath at Yad Vashem. Left: The heartfelt personal message he wrote in the museum’s guest book
human capacity for love and hope. “I am honoured that my own great-grandmother is one of these righteous among the nations.” He added: “We must never forget the Holocaust – the murder of six million men, women and children, simply because they were Jewish. We all have a responsibility to remember and to teach future generations about the horrors of the past so that they can never reoccur.” In an intensely powerful ceremony, the duke followed in the footsteps of dignitaries from around the world in kindling the eternal flame, before stepping back and
bowing his head. Wearing a kippah for the first time in public, he also laid a wreath on a concrete
slab placed above the ashes of Holocaust victims. The ceremony in the hall of remembrance ended with Mirvis reciting the El Melai Rahamim memorial prayer. Earlier, Paul Alexander and Henry Foner – who were
among the 10,000 children who found refuge from the Nazis in the UK as part of the Kindertransport rescue – spoke to the prince about their experiences. He replied: “There’s a lot to take in. It’s not easy.”
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ECHOES OF OUR HISTORY BY LAURA JANNERKLAUSNER SENIOR RABBI, REFORM JUDAISM
There are rare moments when you experience something you know is history in the making. Being at the reception at the British Ambassador’s residence for Prince William was not only history being made for this particular moment, but it held unmistakable echoes of British-Israeli history. The words of the 100-year-old Balfour Declaration ran through my mind as the prince entered. When he went up onto the stage, a large British flag was projected onto the back screen behind him. I stood proudly and sang the national anthem, but then the screen seamlessly moved to projecting the
next flag on the screen. Now we faced the Israeli flag, the unmistakable symbols of the talit and Magen David, and sang just as proudly the Hatikvah. I have always imagined what it would have been like to be here when the British Mandate ended, when the British flag was lowered and the Israeli one raised. That transition from the British flag and God Save The Queen to the Israeli flag and the singing of “to be a free people in our own land” was the nearest thing I have ever had the joy of experiencing to that moment. As the Duke of Cambridge headed off into the occupied Palestinian Territories, carrying the message of peace from Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, I thanked God for having sustained us and having brought us to this very special time.
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Jewish News 28 June 2018
Prince William in Israel
WILLIAM in
his own words…
Full text of the prince’s speech at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv
‘
The prince at the British Embassy, alongside the Netanyahus and David Quarrey
also, looking forward to a much more hopeful future. There is – and I’ve seen it already – an essential vibrancy to this country. From the early stories of the kibbutzim, to the revival of Hebrew as a living, modern language, to the high-tech economies that we see around us here in Tel Aviv – the modern story of Israel is one of inventing, creating, innovating, and striding confidently into its future. I saw part of this future this afternoon when I met boys and girls from different communities, brought together by their love of football. And I got a flavour today of the unique character of Tel Aviv, its flair and diversity – and its beach. A beautiful city. I will meet more young people from around the country, working on the environment, mental health, and helping the less fortunate. These young people are painting a bright future for Israel, bringing their own
energy and creativity to the start-up nation. These young people are also a reminder of how much we have in common – two open societies which thrive on innovation, diversity, talent and excellence. The ties between our two countries have never been stronger, whether in our record levels of trade and investment, our cooperation in science and technology; or the work we do together to keep our people safe. This region has a complicated and tragic history – in the past century, the people of the Middle East have suffered great sadness and loss. Never has hope and reconciliation been more needed. I know I share a desire with all of you, and with your neighbours, for a just and lasting peace. The United Kingdom stands with you, as we work together for a peaceful and prosperous future. Thank you again for the warmth of your welcome. Toda raba.
‘
grandmother, Princess Alice, who was SHALOM. EREV TOV LEKULAM. declared Righteous Among Nations for saving Prime minister, ladies and gentlemen. Jews during the Second World War. I am afraid that that is the extent of my Her story is a matter of great pride Hebrew. But I am delighted to be for my whole family – and the here in Israel. gift I received today from you, This morning, Prime Minister, of a copy I went to Yad Vashem of the medal presented in as my first official her honour by Israel is engagement. It was something my family will a profoundly moving treasure – thank you. experience. As I wrote in my It brought back message at Yad powerful memories Vashem, we must never of the visit that my forget what was perpewife Catherine and I trated against the Jewish made last year to Stutthof people in the Holocaust. I concentration camp. am well aware that the At Yad Vashem, I Supermodel Bar Refaeli at the garden responsibility falls now met survivors of the Holocaust who came to reception held at the residence of the to my generation to UK Ambassador to Israel keep the memory alive the UK on the Kinderof that great crime as transport, whose 80th the Holocaust generation passes on. And I anniversary we mark this year. commit myself to doing this. I heard their stories of a new life made Israel’s remarkable story is partly after the United Kingdom in Israel. one of remembering this terrible past but, I will also visit the grave of my great-
Wills’ ‘Shabbat-style’ World Cup The Chief Rabbi said he was “privileged” to accompany Prince William in Israel this week. Describing how the prince was “palpably moved” during his visit to Yad Vashem, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said he had been impressed by William’s willingness to learn, despite being rushed around by officials. “The visit to Yad Vashem, his first event, was very significant,” Mirvis told Jewish News. “The Duke took a keen interest in everything he was shown, and was very moved. He wished he could have been there the whole day, such was his commitment to ensuring that the evils of history be internalised and never repeated.” There was a moment of levity, too, when Mirvis told the prince he’d had “a very Jewish Shabbat-style experience” while in Jordan. “He didn’t understand, so I explained that I read that when he was in Jordan, he was at an event but arranged to sneak upstairs
Chief Rabbi Mirvis, second right, with William and other dignitaries
to see the England World Cup match against Panama with the Crown Prince, and that he’d asked people not to tell him the score because he wanted to watch it as if it were live. I said: ‘That’s what religious Jews do every Shabbat.’ He burst out laughing.”
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Jewish News 28 June 2018
Prince William in Israel
Such a glorious goal!
Sharing his inspiring story with the future king of England could hardly have been less likely for 17-year-old Omer just one year ago, writes Justin Cohen. The teenager from Akko was on the verge of dropping out of school when he was picked to take part in the Equalizer Programme, an after-school educational scheme that aims to develop self-esteem and leadership among youngsters in disadvantaged Israeli communities, while also promoting understanding between future generations of Jews and Arabs. But such has been the improvement in his academic performance and behaviour in a short space of time that he was given the chance to train as a referee. He is now qualified and even recruits new volunteers to the programme. So when Prince William travelled to Jaffa to meet participants of the scheme and another project run by
Prince William visits the Equalizer Programme, which aims to bring Jewish and Arab youth together through education and football
the Peres Centre for Peace, he was among those to share his experiences. “I can’t believe I got to meet Prince William and share my story with him,” he said afterwards. “He seemed really interested to hear about me. I told him the Equalizer Programme completely changed my life. I was doing poorly in school
and wasn’t interested in much, but always loved football and would do anything to play. “The coaches helped me a lot both at school and at home; they believed in me and kept pushing me forward.” The groundbreaking programme attracts youngsters aged nine to 16 with the promise of weekly football training that they would otherwise not have the opportunity to take part in, but with the condition that they must also attend regular sessions on core topics such as maths and English. It is supported by partners including the British Embassy and UJIA, whose Israel staff were out in force to greet the prince. More than 3,500 currently take part in the programme in Jewish and Arab schools – but come together every month to play alongside each other in mixed teams. For many, this will be their only opportunity to mix in their everyday lives. Welcoming him to the project was Brighton footballer Tomer Hemed. As the pair walked past a giant image of England’s current World Cup king Harry Kane, they spoke about their mutual delight at England’s progress in Russia. The prince took several penalties, scoring
two despite the soaring heat. Among the youngsters taking a penalty was Omar from Jaffa, who said a common love of sport united him with his Jewish peers. On playing with the Duke of Cambridge, he said: “I was so excited and nervous but he was so friendly and fun. He asked us lots of questions and wanted to know what we want to do when we grow up.” Liran Gerassi, who founded the Equalizer nine years ago while studying at Hebrew University, hopes the visit will shine an international spotlight on the programme. He told Jewish News: “It will also help build the kids’ confidence to go back to their communities and say they met the Prince. It will also be great to show the world and the British people that Jewish and Arab kids can get along despite the world thinking we’re fighting all day long.” Prejudice between the two communities can be especially rife in areas where the programme operates, he said, adding the difference between the way the youngsters interact in the first and last tournaments of an academic year is striking. “It goes from being a big issue to a non-issue. Often we’ll go to play in an Arab village and the Jewish kids will be welcomed with handshakes and traditional food. It’s making an impact now but even more for the future because these are the parents of tomorrow.” British Ambassador David Quarrey said: “It was a great thing for the duke to see. It opens participants’ eyes, humanises and, you hope, out of it comes possibilities for peace.”
Playing on the same side BY NATIE SHEVEL
UJIA REGIONAL DIRECTOR Being there on Tuesday when the Duke of Cambridge attended the football event in Jaffa, and seeing the Equalizer Programme team in shirts emblazoned with the UJIA logo, was a moment of pure pride for me. It was a chance to shine a light on a genuinely amazing initiative where Jewish and Arab children, aged nine to 16, actually play together, which is all too rare in Israel. UJIA is the biggest single funder of the Equalizer Programme, and we’re committed to the project because it’s forward-facing and makes a positive difference to Israeli society, for Jews and Arabs alike. It instils educational, sporting and social values, and this year 998 children benefited
from improvements in maths and literacy as well as developing life skills, self-confidence, confidence and leadership. It is a journey, and the British Jewish community now supports a wide variety of shared existence programmes across Israel, through many different charities, not just UJIA. This reflects evolving attitudes in the right direction and I hope that the royal visit will help to further this cause. If I had one message to the Jewish community, I would say this: next time you are in Israel, please take a few hours of your time to visit an organisation that is addressing social cohesion in Israel. Meet new people and get to know a different side of our homeland. I would be happy to arrange a visit to the Equalizer Programme in northern Israel, or another of our shared existence projects.
28 June 2018 Jewish News
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Jewish News 28 June 2018
Prince William in Israel
A BREATH OF FRESH HEIR Stephen Oryszczuk takes a look at the quirkier side of the prince’s trip... There were strong suspicions that a young goalkeeper may have let the prince score in a penalty shoot-out on Tel Aviv’s Frishman beach during an unannounced visit. Officials called for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system and closely analysed whether the youngster could have, in fact, saved the princely side-footed effort. In the end, the benefit of the doubt was awarded to the striker, who – one feels – may feel more at home on a rugby pitch.
As symbolic head of the British Football Association, the prince knows the beautiful game well. He also knew that Israeli President Reuven Rivlin was partial to a bit of a kick-about himself, and that while the 78-year-old Israeli head of state supported Beitar Jerusalem, he also held a candle for Liverpool Football Club. So it was to Rivlin’s absolute delight that the prince handed him a Liverpool shirt signed by club legend Steven Gerrard. The senior statesman’s face said it all. During his visit, the prince eventually managed to meet a queen – of Israeli pop, that is. Sporting a little more hair than the second-in-line to the throne, Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai, famed for her ‘chicken dance,’ briefly joined the prince on Rothschild Boulevard, fresh from winning this year’s singing
competition, a win that means the event will return to Jerusalem next year. The prince also met former Eurovision entrant Shiri Mimon, who described His Royal Highness as a “cool guy” after the pair chatted about the X-Factor and her upcoming role in Chicago on Broadway. “He said maybe I’ll come see you on Broadway, so I’m waiting for him.”
No visit to Israel would be complete without witnessing first-hand how Israelis are changing the world one bit at a time through invention and intelligence. But with so much choice, the question was: which inventor and which invention? That honour fell to Ziv Aviram, whose creation the prince tried on – glasses linked to a computer to allow partially-sighted people see more clearly.
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We all know that the Israelis are an innovative lot, and it was in that spirit that one sunscreen maker chose to advertise itself this week, taking out enormous adverts on the side of buildings and – in reference to Britain’s infamous tabloid press – saying: “Dear Prince William, the British ‘Sun’ is nothing compared to the Israeli sun. Wear sunscreen.” Basking on the beach in the summer heat, we dare say the prince heeded the advice.
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Jewish News 28 June 2018
Prince William in Israel
Moving and momentous BY MK HILIK BAR
DEPUTY KNESSET SPEAKER It was exciting to meet Prince William during his historic visit. Not only were the various guests excited to meet the prince, but he himself was also deeply moved by the many visits and meetings he had in Israel. I was surprised by his patience. He asked questions and gave the impression he was in a personal meeting with everyone he met. In the brief conversation I had with him yesterday as the chairman of the Knesset-British Parliament Friendship Group, I told him about my English connection, my grandmother Yael (Jessica Chin), who immigrated to Israel from Liverpool in 1947. He expressed real interest in the story, asked questions and connected it to things he had to say about Liverpool, including about our president’s admiration for the Liverpool football team. His ability to develop a conversation from nothing, about almost everything, with anyone, was quite impressive. One could see that during his visit, Prince William really wanted to “touch” Israel and the Israelis. He talked to people on the street, at the beach, insisted on meeting young leaders and
entrepreneurs, and showed a genuine interest in understanding the reality in Israel and in the Middle East. In his speech at the reception at the British Ambassador’s residence in Israel, he was excited about talking about his great-grandmother, Princess Alice, a righteous among the nations, who saved Jews during the Second World War. At Yad Vashem, too, the honour he gave in his speech and in the informal private conversations to the memory of the Holocaust and the lessons learned from it, was immense. There is no doubt that the prince’s visit was successful, meaningful, moving and authentic. I hope it will strengthen the connections between Israel and the UK, and that it will open the door for more visits to Israel by the royal family.
Prince William with Hilik Bar
WHEELS FOR WILLS Prince William’s historic visit was celebrated with the dedication of a medical motorbike in his name by Magen David Adom UK. The charity’s recent Pesach appeal raised enough funds to purchase nine emergency medicycles for Israel, one of which was inscribed to mark the royal tour. It is part of plans to raise funds for 70 emergency vehicles for Israel during the year of the country’s 70th anniversary. MDA UK chief executive Daniel Burger said: “The
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royal visit has provided the people of Israel with so much excitement and pride. Magen David Adom is the provider of Israel’s only air ambulances and Prince William is a former air ambulance pilot himself, so we wanted to do something to mark this special occasion. “Prince William will no doubt be aware as to how important the donation of these life-saving vehicles are to the well-being of the people.” As with all state and VIP visits, Magen David Adom was on hand to provide full cover for the prince’s stay.
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Prince William in Israel
‘He was treated like Royalty’ Sheldon Ritz, operations director for the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, reveals what went on behind the scenes during the prince’s stay The advance delegation arrived two days before Prince William. It was not a large group – comparable to the visit of a European prime minister – and comprised aides and assistants, plus security. The journalists stayed at our sister hotel, the Dan Panorama, because they can’t be in the same hotel as the prince. Security is very tight. Everyone who comes in gets screened; the hotel itself is set off the street. The prince took a suite on the top floor, facing the Old City. He looked out on to amazing views from behind rocket-proof and bullet-proof glass. We cater to people from all over the world; for example, for Chinese visitors, we make sticky rice for breakfast, so we bought him some very good tea from England, the best we can buy, and we didn’t forget the milk! We also made scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. We heard that there’s a big debate in England about whether you put the cream or the jam on first, so we left them to the side and let the prince decide! I was invited to the British Embassy a few
weeks ago for training for people who were going to be in contact with the prince, so we could learn the protocol. For instance, the first time you meet him, you say, ‘Welcome, Your Royal Highness,’ then after that you call him ‘Sir’. We were told you shouldn’t put your hand out to welcome him – you have to let him initiate the handshake. I went up with him in the lift to his suite and explained how everything works, because it’s pretty high-tech. I was with him for about 10 minutes, but was told not to initiate conversation. It’s a little funny, the idea of asking Israelis not to initiate conversation, but I’m from South Africa originally, part of the Commonwealth, so I was OK holding my tongue. It’s not often we have royalty in Israel because we’re not a monarchy, and the visit was historic, so we were all very excited. He’s so well-liked, it’s unbelievable. He was here for three nights, which is quite a long time, and we felt very honoured that the whole time he was in the region he was with us. The media attention has been huge, like
Israel
THE ROYAL FAMILY IN 1994
Prince Philip went to Israel on “a private visit” for a ceremony to mark his mother’s courage at Yad Vashem. It was the first time a member of the royal family visited the country. He met members of the Cohen family, who were hidden by his mother in her Athens palace for 13 months during the Nazi occupation of Greece.
1995
Prince Charles attends the funeral of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated by an Israeli extremist for his attempts to make peace with the Palestinians. Like his father’s visit a year before, this was not an official Royal visit and included no diplomatic meetings.
2007
Prince Edward visited Israel at the invitation of the Israel Youth Award programme, which is an affiliate of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, in what was billed as “a working visit”. In the same year, the Duke of Gloucester, the Queen’s cousin, visited an eye clinic in Gaza.
2016
Prince Charles attended the funeral of late Israeli President Shimon Peres, visiting the burial site of his grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, on the Mount of Olives during the trip. She saved a Jewish family during the Holocaust, and was later recognised by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations.
Above and right: The King David Hotel in Jerusalem, where Prince William stayed
when Donald Trump came in May. But for the prince, we didn’t need to bring in extra staff. The prince’s delegation took around 50 rooms, whereas Trump’s took 1,100 rooms, with all 230 rooms at the King David plus rooms in another 19 hotels. We have had a lot of experience hosting important people – such as Presidents George
W Bush, Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel, Tony Blair, King Hussein and, of course, Prince Charles, who stayed twice, but this was definitely unique.
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Jewish News 28 June 2018
Prince William in Israel
PRINCE MEETS QUEEN OF POP! There aren’t many people who could bring thousands on to the streets of Israel and literally stop traffic quite like Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai at the moment, writes Justin Cohen. But Prince William is certainly one of them. Bring together the queen of Israeli pop culture and the future king of England and you have a heady cocktail of celebrity sure to turn heads of even the
“All I said was ‘No, I didn’t pack my own case!’”
most royal-sceptic Israeli. Their double act was the royal visit’s worstkept secret. By the time the Toy singer arrived, the crowds swelled to more than 2,000, with others hanging out of buildings and cafés to catch a glimpse. The volume of chants of their hero’s name was dwarfed only by the shouts of ‘William, we love you’ when he arrived to greet her moments later. Among those waiting behind security barriers was Eliran Goldstein from Tel Aviv with a group of friends. The 32-year-old, wearing a Union Jack T-shirt, said: “Netta is like our royalty but it’s not the same. I’m a huge fan of the royal family. I love history, and British history, and there’s so much British history here. It’s nice to be acknowledged and, if it’s from people you like and adore, it means more.” Surrounded by crowds five or six deep on all sides, William and Netta enjoyed a sparkling cherry water drink at the oldest kiosk in Tel Aviv. One lucky mother, Yael, and her six-week-old
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Above and left: Prince William chats to Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai
son Alon – who was born days apart from Prince Louis – were quietly enjoying a drink there before the balagan unfolded and were surprised to be allowed to remain in the cordoned-off area along with media and officials. Her sister Yifat said HRH surpassed all her expectations. “I shook his hand and I left the universe,” she said. “He’s relaxed and I felt very comfortable. He’s a very impressive person.” Jerusalem – where the prince was based for three nights of his historic Middle East tour – also rolled out the red carpet, with British flags lining streets, while the team at a large chemist saw an advertising opportunity, unveiling a giant poster for suncream, proclaiming: ‘Dear Prince William , the British sun is nothing like the Israeli sun’. But it was the joyous scenes of the dressdown duke at Tel Aviv’s Frishman beach that will provide one of the enduring images of the Israel leg. For more than half an hour, he was greeted like a rock star, shaking hands with the crowds and trying his hand at footvolley. As a section of the famous beach was closed off, among those with a front row view was Dalia Black-Doobov and her three young children Ella, Ziv and Micha. The family caught the eye
of the prince, who bent down to speak to the children. Black-Doobov, who made aliyah 17 years ago, said: “He was really excited. He said the city and beach are great and he wished he’d brought his swimming trunks.” He also scaled a lifeguard tower-turned hotel with Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai, before emerging down the steps to screams of his name from bikini-clad revellers in the sea. He watched members of the Israeli Footvolley Association in action, telling team members: “You guys deserve a serious round of applause. I wish I could do that. I can head. I’m not feeling so young right now.” But he delighted onlookers with a successful kick at the first time of trying. He said: “Just don’t ask me to do the shark attack. Next time I’ll do it.” Footvolley player Gal Hofu Levi said the prince’s support was a “dream come true” that would be a wonderful boost to the sport. He said Tel Aviv had likely never seen such an event, adding: “It’s great respect for Israel to have him here. Everyone is super happy.” He also suggested Israelis have “a lot to learn” from the British in terms of “more respect and patient because the situation we grew up in is intense”.
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Above: The Duke of Cambridge joined volleyballers on Tel Aviv beach. Inset: He meets surfers Lee Korzits, Omri Hazor and Shushu Aharoni
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28 June 2018 Jewish News
For 70 years gifts left in WILLS have enabled JNF UK to turn dreams into reality. Since 1948 when JNF UK’s legacy department (KKL) was founded, over £200 million in legacy donations have helped build and develop our amazing Jewish homeland. As well as planting millions of trees, we are proud to have built reservoirs, parks, youth centres and schools across the country since the establishment of the State of Israel. Today the main focus of our work is in the Negev, enhancing the quality of life of tens of thousands of residents with our vision to turn the vast barren desert into a region thriving with opportunity.
We have achieved so much but there is still a long way to go. Contact us on 0800 358 3587 or wills@kkl.org.uk to find out how you can become a part of our vision for Israel’s future.
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Jewish News 28 June 2018
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OUR ISRAEL. OUR FUTURE.
OUR WINNING TEAM. UJIA was delighted to welcome HRH Prince William to The Equalizer Programme as part of his visit to Israel. The Equalizer is an inclusivity and diversity programme that brings together nearly 1,000 children and teenagers under the umbrella of football. UJIA is the biggest single backer of the project, which won the 2018 UEFA Foundation for Children Award.
For nearly 100 years, UJIA has galvanised the support of British Jewry for Israel. Today, we are supporting some of the country’s most underprivileged and vulnerable children. Here in the UK, we are building a strong British Jewry with a lifelong commitment to Israel.
To find out more visit ujia.org or call 020 7424 6400 Our Israel and our future depends on it.
Photo by Rami Garidish United Jewish Israel Appeal is a registered charity in England and Wales No. 1060078 and in Scotland No. Sc 039181. A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No. 3295115. Registered office: 1 Torriano Mews, London NW5 2RZ.
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27/06/2018 12:53