More than 1,000 guests — diplomats, Jewish leaders, city officials, and representatives of the media — attended a festive reception here last night, marking the 36th anniversary of Israel’s independence.
The reception, held at the Park Avenue Atrium, was jointly given by Yehuda Blum, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, and his wife Moria, and Naphtali Lavie, Israel’s Consul General in New York, and his wife Joan.
Ambassadors from the United Nations mingled with the rest of the guests who were sipping champagne and eating strawberries, slices of cantalope, cheese and Israeli dates. UN Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar could not attend but he was represented by a number of high-ranking UN officials.
One of the highlights of the reception came when Mayor Edward Koch arrived with a small entourage and delivered a short speech congratulating Israel on its day of independence.
The Egyptian Ambassador to the UN, Ahmed Khalil, was invited to attend but he did not show up. Instead, an official of the Egyptian Mission to the UN attended. He shook hands with Blum and Lavie and their wives, stayed briefly and left.
The reception by Israel’s Ambassador and Consul General is by now a “tradition,” held annually on Israel’s Independence Day.
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