As an interested viewer of Knesset proceedings, I cringed in dismay whenever an overseas parliamentary delegation paid an official visit to the Knesset. The Knesset would be 80% to 95% empty, though that was probably explained away by the busyness of members on pressing matters. If this is the norm - not the exception - one must wonder why invitations are extended to overseas delegations to visit the Knesset, since the majority of members are never (repeat never) there to welcome them? Why do we continue a tradition that has the opposite effect to that intended?
Busyness does not mitigate the awful reality that members of Israel's Knesset don't give a hoot about visiting parliamentary delegations. The look on the faces of the latter as take their seats in the public gallery is one of astonished disappointment as they gaze upon the empty seats below.
Fancy being honored by an official invitation to an event which the hosts themselves don't even bother to attend. Imagine the feelings of an Israeli delegation visiting a European parliament to be met with a sea of vacant seats. They would surely feel dishonored and disrespected. Mutterings of anti-Semitism would certainly be heard. Do we think the skins of visiting delegations are thicker than ours?
But it gets worse.
Noticing his agenda now calls for him to make his speech of welcome, the Speaker (or his Deputy) starts reading his speech. He does so as if the delegation is not even present. For though he speaks in Hebrew (naturally), his hearers have often not brought along a translator. Nor has the Knesset thoughtfully provided one.
The Speaker drones on from start to finish not lifting his head to look at those he's welcoming. Were it not for the fact that the name of the country is mentioned a few times during the speech, the delegation would never know it was being addressed. When the Speaker is finished, he skips to the next item on the agenda as if that were that. The departing guests are never given a friendly goodbye gesture.
No eye contact. No personal friendliness. No sense of importance communicated. No respect. No honor. Not an ounce of goodwill extended. Just a chore to get over and on to the next agenda item.
Indeed, most delegations seem not to know when the welcome speech started, nor when it is over. They are left to see themselves out without their leader even being given the elementary courtesy of saying a few words of thanks.
Some things, however, are changing for the better. Earlier in the year, I had the pleasure of witnessing Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin, welcoming guest delegations from Hungary and Japan to the Knesset.
What gave me genuine pleasure was Mr. Rivlin's inherent appreciation and acknowledgement of the importance of their visits. He paid his respects and extended due honor in his "Baruch habah" (welcome) to each delegation. Rivlin's friendly delivery and body language made a palpable difference.
He made friendly eye contact with the members of each delegation. He smiled his pleasure to his visitors as he addressed them. The appreciative smiles of response from the visitors gallery were immediately noticeable. He made them feel important not only in what he said, but how he delivered his message.
On July 4, a delegation from the Romanian parliament, headed by their foreign minister, was already seated when Rivlin saw that the agenda now required him to make his visitors' welcome speech. He was obviously embarrassed because he had been informed that members of the cabinet would be present for his welcome speech. (He mumbled as much into the microphone.)
After waiting a few minutes more, and seeing no help for it, Rivlin launched into his speech (in Hebrew, of course). I was extremely pleased to see that a translated copy of the speech in Romanian was given to the delegation on this occasion. At least these visitors would know what the Speaker was saying!
A few simple changes in protocol will overcome the problems mentioned:
1. The Knesset should invite a suitable number of expatriates of the country of the visiting delegation to be present in the visitors gallery.
2. Unless simultaneous translation is available, each member of the delegation should be given a translated copy of the speech (on Knesset stationary) before being seated.
3. Let the Speaker stand for his first few words of welcome. And let these be delivered in the language of the visiting delegation.
4. Let the Speaker stand for his parting words - also given in the delegation's language.
5. Provide a microphone in the visitors gallery for the leader of the delegation to express his thanks if he wishes.
6. If the Speaker cannot be present, let him appoint a specific Deputy drilled in carrying out the proper welcome etiquette.
Overseas parliamentary delegations can be very important to Israel's good standing in a world where we have far too few friends. In addition to Japan, Hungary and Romania already mentioned, a number of important parliamentary delegations visited during the past 18 months: Foreign ministers of Germany, France, Greece, Norway, Finland and Austria; the president of the Turkish parliament, and the defense and agriculture ministers; the Finnish foreign minister; the Swiss prime minister and members of the Swiss parliament; the Ukrainian interior minister; the President of Moldova, and the interior, foreign and economics ministers.
Israel cannot afford to be indifferent to opportunities for increased friendship. We dare not send these delegations away fuming for being dishonored. We must ensure a pleasant memory for each foreign mission's official visit to the Knesset.
Busyness does not mitigate the awful reality that members of Israel's Knesset don't give a hoot about visiting parliamentary delegations. The look on the faces of the latter as take their seats in the public gallery is one of astonished disappointment as they gaze upon the empty seats below.
Fancy being honored by an official invitation to an event which the hosts themselves don't even bother to attend. Imagine the feelings of an Israeli delegation visiting a European parliament to be met with a sea of vacant seats. They would surely feel dishonored and disrespected. Mutterings of anti-Semitism would certainly be heard. Do we think the skins of visiting delegations are thicker than ours?
But it gets worse.
Noticing his agenda now calls for him to make his speech of welcome, the Speaker (or his Deputy) starts reading his speech. He does so as if the delegation is not even present. For though he speaks in Hebrew (naturally), his hearers have often not brought along a translator. Nor has the Knesset thoughtfully provided one.
The Speaker drones on from start to finish not lifting his head to look at those he's welcoming. Were it not for the fact that the name of the country is mentioned a few times during the speech, the delegation would never know it was being addressed. When the Speaker is finished, he skips to the next item on the agenda as if that were that. The departing guests are never given a friendly goodbye gesture.
No eye contact. No personal friendliness. No sense of importance communicated. No respect. No honor. Not an ounce of goodwill extended. Just a chore to get over and on to the next agenda item.
Indeed, most delegations seem not to know when the welcome speech started, nor when it is over. They are left to see themselves out without their leader even being given the elementary courtesy of saying a few words of thanks.
Some things, however, are changing for the better. Earlier in the year, I had the pleasure of witnessing Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin, welcoming guest delegations from Hungary and Japan to the Knesset.
What gave me genuine pleasure was Mr. Rivlin's inherent appreciation and acknowledgement of the importance of their visits. He paid his respects and extended due honor in his "Baruch habah" (welcome) to each delegation. Rivlin's friendly delivery and body language made a palpable difference.
He made friendly eye contact with the members of each delegation. He smiled his pleasure to his visitors as he addressed them. The appreciative smiles of response from the visitors gallery were immediately noticeable. He made them feel important not only in what he said, but how he delivered his message.
On July 4, a delegation from the Romanian parliament, headed by their foreign minister, was already seated when Rivlin saw that the agenda now required him to make his visitors' welcome speech. He was obviously embarrassed because he had been informed that members of the cabinet would be present for his welcome speech. (He mumbled as much into the microphone.)
After waiting a few minutes more, and seeing no help for it, Rivlin launched into his speech (in Hebrew, of course). I was extremely pleased to see that a translated copy of the speech in Romanian was given to the delegation on this occasion. At least these visitors would know what the Speaker was saying!
A few simple changes in protocol will overcome the problems mentioned:
1. The Knesset should invite a suitable number of expatriates of the country of the visiting delegation to be present in the visitors gallery.
2. Unless simultaneous translation is available, each member of the delegation should be given a translated copy of the speech (on Knesset stationary) before being seated.
3. Let the Speaker stand for his first few words of welcome. And let these be delivered in the language of the visiting delegation.
4. Let the Speaker stand for his parting words - also given in the delegation's language.
5. Provide a microphone in the visitors gallery for the leader of the delegation to express his thanks if he wishes.
6. If the Speaker cannot be present, let him appoint a specific Deputy drilled in carrying out the proper welcome etiquette.
Overseas parliamentary delegations can be very important to Israel's good standing in a world where we have far too few friends. In addition to Japan, Hungary and Romania already mentioned, a number of important parliamentary delegations visited during the past 18 months: Foreign ministers of Germany, France, Greece, Norway, Finland and Austria; the president of the Turkish parliament, and the defense and agriculture ministers; the Finnish foreign minister; the Swiss prime minister and members of the Swiss parliament; the Ukrainian interior minister; the President of Moldova, and the interior, foreign and economics ministers.
Israel cannot afford to be indifferent to opportunities for increased friendship. We dare not send these delegations away fuming for being dishonored. We must ensure a pleasant memory for each foreign mission's official visit to the Knesset.