On June 19th, the Embassy of Israel in Bulgaria hosted a reception on the occasion of the State of Israel's Independence Day.

The event took place at the Hyatt Regency Sofia and was attended by representatives of the Bulgarian government, parliament members, members of the diplomatic corps, cultural and public figures, journalists, and friend of Israel.

E. Mr. Yosi Levi Sfari, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel to the Republic of Bulgaria, welcomed the guests with an emotional speech, noting that celebrating the country's 76th birthday is not an easy task given the difficult situation Israel is currently facing and the fact that 120 men, women, and children are still held hostage in Gaza. He stated, however, "As much as we are forced to grieve now, we know that we will blossom again."

In his speech, Ambassador Sfari expressed gratitude to the Bulgarian government and society, who immediately condemned the bloody attack on October 7th and expressed solidarity with the Israeli people.

He also highlighted the numerous achievements Israel has made as a global leader in innovation and technology.

As part of the program, guests had the opportunity to see photographs by the renowned Israeli photojournalist Ziv Koren, known for his work in war zones, who captured with his lens the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists during the October 7th attack. The powerful images evoked deep emotions among the attendees.

The guests expressed solidarity with the hostages and their families at our special corner dedicated to them.

The Embassy of the State of Israel supports the Day Center for Adults with Disabilities "St. Marina" - Sofia, and therefore invited the guests to donate art therapy materials to the Center instead of bringing bouquets and gifts. After the event, the Embassy expressed its gratitude to all those who participated in the initiative and contributed to bringing some joy and smiles.

This material was provided by the Embassy of the State of Israel in the Republic of Bulgaria.