19 December 2014 - Philippine Ambassador to Israel Nathaniel G. Imperial presented to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin his Letters of Credence as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the State of Israel at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on December 10.

During the ceremony, President Rivlin conveyed his best regards to President Benigno S. Aquino III. He recalled that the Philippines was the only Asian country that supported the UN resolution on the partition of Palestine which gave way to the establishment of the State of Israel. Today, Israel hosts more than 30,000 Filipinos in Israel, most of whom work as caregivers. President Rivlin acknowledged the important role that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Israel play in the society.

Ambassador Imperial noted that the deep connection between the peoples of Israel and the Philippines dates back to as early as the late 1930s when then President Manual Quezon initiated the "open door policy" which offered a safe haven in the Philippines for European Jews fleeing the Holocaust. Out of the 10,000 visas offered, only about 1,300 Jews reached the Philippines. Ambassador Imperial said the bilateral partnership has since grown and expanded in many areas, particularly in the fields of agriculture, political, and defense cooperation.

The Ambassador hopes to continue the achievements of his predecessors and contribute to the further strengthening of Philippine-Israel bilateral ties, now at a new high, during his tenure in the country.  END