At the event marking Israel’s National Day, held today (Thursday) at the Expo 2025 exhibition in Japan, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar took part in the ceremony. During his visit to the Israeli pavilion, Sa’ar highlighted a notable achievement—about 270,000 visitors since the exhibition’s opening—and stressed the importance of showcasing Israel as a global innovation leader.
What is Expo 2025?
Expo 2025 is a major international exhibition that takes place every few years in different countries around the world. It serves as a platform for presenting technological, cultural, and social innovations from many nations. The expo introduces visitors to diverse cultures and global solutions to today’s challenges, highlighting breakthroughs in science, technology, the economy, and culture.
This year’s exhibition in Japan is held under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” and features displays and activities that emphasize innovation and social values.
Photo credit: Shlomi Amsalem, GPO
A Stone from the Hasmonean Era
At the heart of Israel’s national pavilion is an original building stone from a Hasmonean defense tower, constructed in Jerusalem more than 2,000 years ago. Verses from the Bible are projected onto the stone, symbolizing the Jewish people’s deep historical connection to their land.
In addition, the walls of the pavilion feature graphic renderings that illustrate how biblical verses and values have inspired modern ideas and innovative solutions. The pavilion emphasizes Israel’s global role as a center of innovation, while reinforcing its historical and spiritual ties to the Land of Israel—and to Jerusalem in particular.
Israel’s National Day at the Expo
During the National Day event, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met with the Expo’s leadership and participated in the central ceremony. As part of the proceedings, the Israeli flag was raised, and the national anthem “Hatikvah” was played in the main hall. In his remarks, the Foreign Minister stated that despite the difficult period Israel is currently facing, “we chose to participate in Expo 2025 and present Israel to the world. Our decision to take part reflects the resilience of the Jewish people.”
“We Pray for the Release of All the Hostages”
Sa’ar continued: “We stand here with pride, raising our flag and strengthening our ties with friends around the world.”
He went on to address the partnership between Israel and Japan, stating: “This partnership stems from the deep friendship between our countries and from the shared challenges we face.” He also noted that “58 of our hostages are still held in Hamas’s brutal captivity,” and mentioned that Japan, too, has painful experience with the issue of abductions by North Korea.
He concluded his speech with the following: “We call and pray for the release of all the hostages. We will not rest until we bring them all home.”
