Zagreb, October 12, 2023 – A powerful message of unity, hope, and peace is being sent from Croatia to our friends in Israel, said Prof. Dr. Dragan Primorac, Honorary President of the Croatian-Israeli Business Club, during a concert held at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall in Zagreb on Wednesday, October 11th.
The concert featured Eurovision luminaries Tatjana “Tajči” Cameron and Moti Giladi, accompanied by the Croatian RadioTelevision Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Alan Bjelinski, with pianist Joe Kaplowitz joining them.
Primorac emphasized how the Croatian people understand the suffering of their friends in Israel, as they had witnessed it themselves during the Homeland War. When it was most needed, Israel stood by Croatia, just as Croatia stands by Israel today.
The concert was attended by a diverse audience from Croatia and abroad, as well as high-ranking local and foreign dignitaries, including Gordan Jandroković, Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Gary Koren, the Ambassador of Israel to the Republic of Croatia, Radovan Fuchs, Minister of Science and Education, and Ivan Malenica, Minister of Justice and Administration.
Gordan Jandroković, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, highlighted that the concert was a show of support for friendly Israel. He expressed that Croatia is a strong advocate for peace and the right of every nation to defend itself, and in this case, Israel had been attacked in a very brutal way, so Croatia stands behind Israel.
Gary Koren, the Ambassador of Israel to Croatia, expressed gratitude to the Croatian people for their solidarity with Israel in these painful moments. He emphasized his appreciation for friends, the Croatian-Israeli Business Club, the leadership of Croatia for their support, Israel’s right to self-defense, and the condemnation of terrorism.
Solidarity, peace, friendship, love, and unity
The performance by musicians Tatjana “Tajči” Cameron and Moti Giladi was particularly emotional, as they sang in Croatian, Hebrew, and English. Their exceptional connection with the audience and unique musical interpretations immortalized Croatia’s solidarity with the Israeli people.
“Tajči and I believed it would be a great idea to compose a new song, especially for this event, a song that reflects the meaning of this evening and the values we carry: love, friendship, hope, unity, and peace,” Moti said before performing their single “Holding out my hand.” “Coming together, showing up, being here – like we are tonight, that’s the right place to start,” Tajči added.
The rich musical program included a variety of songs, from “Hevenu shalom sleichem” (We brought peace upon you) to “Dobro mi došel prijatel,” (Welcome, my friend) “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” and others.
This extraordinary musical event served as a testament to the unity and true friendship between Croatia and Israel, as well as all those who strive for peace and unity, never losing hope for a better tomorrow. These are the threads of humanity that connect us at the deepest level.
The concert, filled with emotions and unique musical art that brings people together, dignifiedly marked the 75th anniversary of the Israel Independence and 26 years of diplomatic relations between Croatia and Israel, demonstrating the deep friendship between the two countries.
The audience strongly expressed their solidarity with Israel, waving both Israeli and Croatian flags and joyfully joining Moti and Tajči in singing the song “Hevenu shalom sleichem,” the peace anthem. A special moment of enthusiasm was when Moti sang in Croatian, delivering the line “Croatio iz duše te ljubim” (Croatia, I love you from the bottom of my heart). Tajči was profoundly moved by the audience’s response, which showed how much they missed her music.
In conclusion, the concert of solidarity with Israel, organized by the Croatian-Israeli Business Club and the Embassy of Israel in the Republic of Croatia, was an emotionally charged moment and a testament to the long-standing friendship reflected in the exceptional quality of diplomatic relations between Croatia and Israel.
