Peres Meets Ethiopian-Bound Ambassador

President Shimon Peres met Tuesday with Zevadia Belaynesh, Israel’s first Ethiopian-born ambassador, who will serve as ambassador to Ethiopia. “I am very proud of you and your work. You are the first blossom of the Ethiopian community… the entire nation congratulates you,” he told her.

He expressed confidence that Belaynesh will succeed as “an ambassador who is deeply acquainted with both countries, including the languages, the culture and our shared history.”

Belaynesh told Peres that the appointment is “an enormous honor.” She added, “I intend to justify my appointment as an ambassador, and to apply my best efforts to promote cooperation between Israel and Ethiopia.”