Embassy of the Philippines, Tel Aviv

The Embassy of the Philippines in Tel Aviv is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the State of Israel. Opened in 1962, it is located on 18 Bnei Dan Street (Hebrew: רחוב בני דן 18‎) in the Yehuda HaMaccabi neighborhood of central Tel Aviv, across from Yarkon Park.

Embassy of the Philippines, Tel Aviv
Pasuguan ng Pilipinas sa Tel Aviv
LocationTel Aviv
Address18 Bnei Dan Street
Coordinates32°05′42.9″N 34°47′10.1″E
AmbassadorMacairog S. Alberto
Websitehttp://tel-avivpe.dfa.gov.ph

History

The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv was opened in 1962, five years after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Israel. Its opening coincided with the opening of the Israeli Embassy in Manila that same year.[1]

In 2012, the Embassy's website was hacked by a hacker who identified himself as "RcP" amid increased tension between Israeli troops and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.[2]

Proposed relocation to Jerusalem

In December 2017, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that the Philippines was one of at least ten countries reportedly looking to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, following the decision of the United States to do so earlier in the month.[3] The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) denied that such a move was being discussed, citing its support for a two-state solution as part of the wider Israeli–Palestinian peace process.[4]

DFA Undersecretary Ernesto Abella again denied in August 2018 that the Philippine government was considering moving the Embassy to Jerusalem when he mentioned that it was not a part of President Rodrigo Duterte's agenda for his then-upcoming state visit to Israel.[5]

Staff and activities

The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv is headed by Ambassador Macairog S. Alberto, who was appointed by President Duterte on March 12, 2020. Prior to becoming Ambassador, Alberto was previously the Commanding General of the Philippine Army.[6] His appointment was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments on September 16, 2020,[7] and Alberto arrived in Tel Aviv to assume his post on December 17, 2020.[8]

The Embassy's activities center around providing to the welfare of Filipinos in Israel, many of whom are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Following the death of a Filipino worker from a bomb explosion in Haifa in 2001, the Embassy organized text brigades to quickly disseminate information to Filipinos throughout the country,[9] while in 2005, Ambassador Antonio Modena protested the treatment of Filipinos entering or exiting Israel, many of whom were subjected to excess security screening or were segregated from other departing or arriving foreigners.[10]

In addition to catering to the welfare of Filipinos in Israel, the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv also provides assistance to nationals of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which do not have a diplomatic presence in Israel, such as with the case of 12 Malaysians detained by Israeli authorities following the Gaza flotilla raid in 2010.[11]

See also

References
  1. Lorenciana, Carlo S. (October 18, 2018). "Envoy hopes for direct Philippine-Israel connectivity". The Freeman. PhilStar Daily, Inc. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  2. "Philippine embassy website in Israel hacked". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. November 15, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  3. "Philippines studying moving embassy to Jerusalem — report". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. December 26, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  4. Pazzibugan, Dona Z. (December 27, 2017). "DFA denies PH has plan to move embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  5. Yu, Chona (August 31, 2018). "Paglilipat ng Philippine Embassy sa Jerusalem wala sa agenda ni Pangulong Duterte sa Israel" (in Filipino). Radyo Inquirer. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  6. Salaverria, Leila B. (March 12, 2020). "More military men, 4 CA justices named". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  7. Ramos, Christia Marie (September 16, 2020). "6 PH envoys get CA panel nod". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  8. "PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE TO ISRAEL CALLS ON MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Tel Aviv. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  9. Jaymalin, Mayen (December 31, 2001). "'Text brigades' formed for Filipinos in Israel". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  10. Lee-Brago, Pia (February 18, 2007). "Modena, RP envoy to Israel, dies of cancer". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  11. "Manila to aid Malaysians detained by Israeli authorities". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. June 3, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
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