Social and Diplomatic Events in Ankara

	Farewell to the best Turk among Israelis and best Israeli among Turks “Au revoir” or “Lehitraot” but not an “Adieu” Ambassador of Israel Gabi Levy and his wife Irit hosted a farewell reception for the outgoing MOD SIBAT Representative Ari Tzaphir and his wonderful wife Adina and to welcome his successor Shuki Bachar. After close friends of the Embassy and the Tzaphir couple, along with Embassy members arrived, Ambassador Gabi, Defense Attaché Col. Shalom Ochovski and Tzaphir, took the floor and delivered their farewell massages. Ari Tzaphir, born in Milas, Turkey and raised there, graduated from Istanbul Technical University and speaks fluent Turkish. In his speech Tzaphir said: "People like me, who were born and raised in this country are very much attached to their roots. So in Israel, I also live as I would in Turkey. On the 31^st of July, he will be completing his career of 35 years and will be retiring but Tzaphir said “I will not fully retire until grave!”. While Ambassador Gaby addressed him as: *“The best Turk among Israelis and best Israeli among Turks*. Ambassador Gaby also said for Ari Tzaphir's wife: "Adina is the most respected person after me in the Embassy as she is the one who pays the salaries to all the staff each month. Col. Ochovski, who made a speech after Ambassador Gaby, said that Ari Tzaphir was a tremendous help during their posting in Turkey, especially when they traveled to Istanbul – a place Tzaphir knows well – and he would always see the beautiful city from his eyes.