On the morning of May 6, President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) of the Legislative Yuan, accompanied by Chair of the Taiwan-Israel Congressional Association DPP Legislator Chung Chia-Pin, KMT Legislator Adm. Chen Yeong-Kang, and others, received a five-member cross-party delegation from the Israeli Knesset.
Toporovsky）主席，立法院均表達最熱烈的歡迎，並特別感謝以色列國會多次在國際社會為台灣發聲。
President Han began by extending a warm welcome to the delegation. He said that the Legislative Yuan was delighted to welcome both former Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy, who was visiting Taiwan for the first time, and Boaz Toporovsky, Chair of the Israel-Taiwan parliamentary friendship group, who was making his fourth visit to Taiwan. President Han also expressed particular appreciation to the Knesset for repeatedly speaking up for Taiwan in the international community.
President Han went on to highlight the many similarities between Taiwan and Israel. Despite their limited territory and lack of natural resources, both countries have achieved remarkable success on the international stage through the tireless efforts of their people. Moreover, both peoples hold deeply rooted beliefs and demonstrate remarkable national resilience. For two millennia, the Jewish people have been guided by the Talmud and the Torah, while Taiwan has been deeply influenced by philosophical traditions such as those reflected in the Analects. President Han also expressed his concern for Israel amid the ongoing conflict and sincerely hoped that peace would soon return to the Middle East and the world, bringing stability to nations and allowing people to live in safety. He further expressed hope that Taiwan would always remain far from war.
Delegation leader and former Knesset Speaker Levy thanked President Han for his warm reception. He stated that visiting Taiwan while conflict continues in the Middle East sends an important message about the steadfast friendship between Israel and Taiwan. He thanked Taiwan for its support, described Taiwan as a true friend of Israel, and expressed hope that the two sides would continue to deepen cooperation in areas including security and artificial intelligence. Former Speaker Levy also shared the history of the Jewish people over thousands of years and the establishment of the State of Israel. He noted that although Israel is small in both territory and population, it will always remain the homeland of Jewish people around the world. He also expressed hope that peace would soon return.
Speaking as Chair of the Taiwan-Israel Congressional Association, Legislator Chung welcomed the delegation and shared how deeply moved he had been when listening to Israel’s national anthem and learning about the meaning of its lyrics. He noted that the people of Taiwan and Israel alike cherish freedom and democratic institutions, and expressed admiration for Israel’s resilience in maintaining the normal functioning of society during wartime. Legislator Chung stated that Taiwan could learn from Israel’s experience in talent cultivation and innovation. He also looked forward to deeper bilateral exchanges and cooperation in areas including drone technology, the Iron Dome missile defense system, and regulatory frameworks for startups.
Legislator Adm. Chen shared his experiences from four visits to Israel and said that he was deeply impressed by the country’s high-tech development. He noted that Taiwan possesses leading AI chip technology and is actively strengthening its indigenous defense capabilities. He expressed hope that Taiwan could draw on Israel’s experience to further strengthen bilateral technological and military cooperation, and that peace and prosperity would soon return to Israel.
The two sides then held broad and in-depth discussions on national defense and security, technological innovation, healthcare, and industrial cooperation. The meeting lasted approximately 60 minutes and took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere. It concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts and a group photo. (2026/05/06)
