About 70 people attended the farewell luncheon here yesterday honoring Israeli Ambassador Ephraim Evron and his wife Rivka, who will be retiring and returning to Israel next month. He is being succeeded by Moshe Arens, who is presently the chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Security Committee.
In a statement from Secretary of State Alexander Haig, who was unable to attend due to the crisis in Poland and read by his executive assistant, Woody Goldberg, Evron was lauded for having “the highest professional standards of diplomacy” adding that “all of us concerned with the security of Israel and peace in the Middle East are very thankful that you represented Israel in these crucial years.”
Evron, in his speech, said he had prepared a different address before the events of the last few days and that he already said what he had to say about them in the news media.
Therefore, he said, he felt it was inappropriate to address himself to the subject at this time “because we are in the middle of a difficult period. I have been through this many times and every time it all seems it has been the worst crisis we have been through only to have it followed by a period of very warm and close relations.”
Evron added: “I believe with all my heart that the destinies of Israel and the United States are interlocked. Despite the great discrepancies in size, numbers, power and influence, we have much more than these things…. We all should do everything within our power to nurture and care for relations between our two countries.”
The Republican National Committee, who jointly sponsored the event with the National Republican Jewish Coalition, presented Evron with a Boehm ceramic sculpture of a young couple dancing. A second gift was presented to Mrs. Evron.
Among those attending the luncheon was National Security Advisor Richard Allen who is on administration leave of absence, and Jewish Republican leaders from across the country.
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