L-R: KKL-JNF's Vice-Chairman Hernan Felman, Attaché affaires head at the Embassy of Paraguay Fernando Allo Acevedo, (Photo: Bruno Sharvit, KKL-JNF Photo Archive)
The Eshta'ol forest, which stretches across 12 thousand acres on the Foothills of Judea, is home to the Paraguay Recognition Center, which was founded by KKL-JNF to honor the long-standing friendship between the two states.
The moving ceremony consisted of words of greeting given by KKL-JNF's Vice-Chairman Mr. Hernen Felman, Attaché affaires head at the Embassy of Paraguay Mr. Fernando Allo Acevedo, Deputy CEO and Head of the Department for Latin America at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Modi Ephraim, and was attended by over 13 delegates and dignitaries from across Latin America. Following the ceremony, KKL-JNF hosted a more private tree planting event, commemorating Paraguay's some 10,000 citizens who have died from the global Corona pandemic.
KKL-JNF's Vice-Chairman Hernan Felman said: ""We stand here today, shoulder to shoulder, with you - our dear friends from Paraguay - as we celebrate your 210 years of independence, and remember and mourn Paraguay's citizens, who have passed away from the Corona global pandemic. I see no better scenery to hold this special occasion here in Israel - than in one of KKL-JNF's lush and green forests, here in Eshta'ol.
Ever since Israel's own deceleration of independence, some 73 years ago, Paraguay was there for us. Supporting the Jewish-Israeli cause, voting in the UN in favor of the Jewish state along with 33 other countries, moving its embassy to Israel's capital - Jerusalem, and many more actions and decisions which have shown the brave friendship that exists between the Jewish people and the people of Paraguay. Thank you, dear friends. May the deceased rest in peace, and their families know better days, and we wish all of you a better 210th independence year".