Official Outgoing Delegations of the 19th Knesset 1. Joining Minister of Foreign Affairs Elkin’s Delegation on a Formal Visit to Kiev, Ukraine Trip details: Knesset members held meetings to advance the inter-parliamentary relations between Israel and Ukraine with the Ukrainian Prime Minister and religious leaders in the country. Moreover, technological and economical collaborations and were discussed with senior figures in the economy and interviews on the media on Israeli-Ukrainian relations were held. Dates: April 24th-26th, 2013 Participants: Knesset Members Robert Ilatov and Avraham Michaeli 2. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Luxemburg Trip details: Knesset members participated in discussions on diplomatic and security developments in the Middle East, including the Iranian nuclear threat and the situation in Syria. Following the visit, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Committee of Science and Technology notified that it will arrive in Israel to learn about technological developments the Israeli security establishment uses, including missile defense systems and cyber warfare defense systems. 1 Dates: May 17th-19th, 2013. Participants: Knesset Members Nachman Shai, Yoni Chetboun, Ronen Hoffman 3. The Energy Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly - Union for the Mediterranean - PA-UFM in Sweden Trip details: the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Issues of Environment and Health in the Knesset, KM Dov Khenin, participated in discussions on the management of coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea, the challenges and risks of planned gas and oil drillings in the Sea’s eastern basin, etc. The Committee was invited for a professional visit to Israel. Dates: May 26th-28th, 2013. Participants: Knesset Member Dov Khenin 4. The Diplomatic Committee of the Council of Europe in France Trip details: Knesset Members Nachman Shai and Ronen Hoffman participated in discussions of the 2 Diplomatic Committee of the Council of Europe, which dealt, among other things, with the Israeli- Palestinian Conflict and its consequences. Their active participation in the forum resulted in a substantial mitigation of the anti-Israeli decisions the committee was about to make. Dates: June 5th-6th, 2013 Participants: Knesset Members Nachman Shai, Ronen Hoffman 5. The OECD Parliamentary Seminar in Sweden Trip details: Knesset Members Meir Sheetrit and Stav Shaffir discussed the Nordic socio-economic model of a mixed market economy with parliament members of 20 countries around the world and the OECD report on the quality of life and resident satisfaction in various member states in the organization. The two held sessions with experts and professionals from the organization on those subjects. Dates: June 16th-18th, 2013 Participants: Knesset Members Meir Sheetrit, Stav Shaffir 3 6. The Speaker for the Knesset Delegation for a Formal Visit of Cyprus Trip details: the Speaker for the Knesset, KM Yuli Yoel Edelstein, met with the President of the Cyprus House of Representatives and signed a protocol of cooperation between the countries on issues of culture, economy, natural resources, etc. Chairman Edelstein asked his Cyprus counterpart to act against the European Union’s decision to boycott Israeli products and institutes of higher education outside the Green Line. Dates: September 1st-3rd, 2013 Participants: The Speaker for the Knesset, Yuli-Yoel Edelstein 7. Launching an Exhibition in the Kaluga Memorial Site in Estonia + Meeting with the Parliamentary Friendship Group Trip details: KM Rina Frenkel launched the Holocaust Victims Memorial Museum near the concentration camp in Kaluga, Estonia. She conferred with the Estonian Minister of Culture, the Parliament Committee of Foreign Affairs and members of the Estonia-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group. 4 Dates: September 15th-18th, 2013 Participants: Knesset Member Rina Frenkel 8. The Speaker for the Knesset Delegation for a Formal Visit of Italy Trip details: the Speaker for the Knesset, KM Yuli Yoel Edelstein, conferred with Pope Francis, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate. He discussed the issue of the Iranian nuclear, the negotiation with Palestinians, decisions by the European Union to prevent project funding and investments in Judea and Samaria and the offer to recommend that circumcision be prohibited with him. Speaker Edelstein invited the Pope on a visit to Israel. Moreover, Edelstein appeared before members of the House of Representatives Committee of Foreign Affairs and the Senate. The Speaker for the Knesset also met the leaders of the Jewish community in Rome. Dates: October 6th-9th, 2013 Participants: The Speaker for the Knesset, Yuli-Yoel Edelstein 9. Formal Visit of the Friendship Group in Portugal Trip details: Knesset members held work meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Vice President of the Parliament, members of the Defense Committee and the 5 Foreign Affairs Committee and members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group. Moreover, the delegation had a meeting with leaders of the Jewish community in Portugal and interviewed for the local media. In their meetings, Knesset Members encouraged economical-commercial collaborations between the countries and exchanges of expert delegations in science and culture. Moreover, the renewal of direct flights from Israel to Portugal was discussed due to the decrease in tourism between the two countries. Dates: October 9th-13th 2013 Participants: Knesset Members Tzachi Hanegbi, Eitan Cabel, David Tzur 10. The 129th IPU Convention in Switzerland Trip details: Knesset Members Meir Sheetrit and Aliza Lavie participated in the convention of the IPU inter- parliamentary organization, whose agenda included the request by the Palestinian Delegation to boycott Israel and denounce construction in settlements. Following the presentation of the Knesset Members’ position that accepting the Palestinian request may sabotage the negotiations between the countries, the request was lifted. Dates: October 6th-9th 2013 Participants: 6 Knesset Members Aliza Lavie, Meir Sheetrit 11. Joining Minister of Foreign Affairs Elkin’s Trip to Georgia - Convention + Diplomatic Meetings Trip details: the Chairman of the Israel-Georgia Friendship Association, KM Avraham Michaeli, and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Elkin met with the Prime Minister of Georgia and the Chairman of the Parliament, and participated in the “Diplomatic Dilemmas” conference. Moreover, he met with members of the Georgian parliament to promote cooperation between the two parliaments. Dates: October 30th-November 3rd, Participants: 2013 Knesset Member Avraham Michaeli 12. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean - PA-UFM in Belgium Trip details: Deputy Speaker for the Knesset, KM Gila Gamliel, represented the Knesset in a convention that dealt with renewal of the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians the situation in Syria and the transition to democracy in the new Arab world. KM Galiel stated that Israel is reaching out to help with any humanitarian issue, and talked about the aid provided to Syrian casualties arriving in Israel. Furthermore, MK Gamliel acted against the recommendation by the Council of Europe to prohibit circumcision. 7 Dates: November 6th-10th, 2013 Participants: Knesset Member Gila Gamliel 13. The Lisbon Forum + Political Committee of the Council of Europe in Portugal Trip details: members of the Knesset represented Israel in discussions following the “Spring of Nations” and regime changes in Arab countries and in comprehensive discussions of the Palestinian Authority. The Knesset Members held meetings with representatives of European states and the Arab countries. In the discussions, the Knesset retaliated against the harsh criticism by representatives of the Palestinian Authority. Moreover, participation of Knesset members resulted in seven members of the Parliamentary Assembly who joined the appeal to open the decision by the Council of Europe to prohibit circumcision for renewed discussion. Dates: November 6th-10th, 2013 Participants: Knesset Members Nachman Shai, Shimon Ohayon, Ronen Hoffman 14. The Council of Europe Committee on Social Affairs in Switzerland 8 Trip details: KM Meir Sheetrit delivered a speech before the Council of Europe Health Committee and called to reverse the Council’s decision to recommend that European countries enact laws to limit circumcision rituals. Following his speech, members of parliaments in several European countries announced their support of Israel’s position. Dates: November 12th-13th, 2013 Participants: Knesset Member Meir Sheetrit 15. Activity by the Knesset in the Greek Parliament Against the Decision to Prohibit Circumcision Trip details: KM David Tzur met with 9 members of the Greek parliament who represent their country in the Council of Europe, to reverse the Council’s decision to recommend that European countries legislate laws to limit circumcision rituals. Following the meeting 7 members of parliament signed a request to re-open the decision. KM Tzur also met the Greek Minister of Interior Security and 10 members of parliament from the Greek-Israel Friendship Group. Dates: November 19th-20th, 2013 Participants: 9 Knesset Member David Tzur 16. The NATO Seminar on the Middle East at the Italian Parliament Trip details: Knesset Members Omer Bar-Lev and Yoni Chetboun participated in discussions that dealt with civil war in Syria and the changes taking place in Iran. The