Israel has joined the Society of Foreign Consuls in New York, which includes countries with which it does not maintain diplomatic relations.
The consul general in the city, Ofir Akunis, said that "while some are trying to portray our country as diplomatically isolated, this membership proves the opposite. The Society of Foreign Consuls in New York, operating since 1925, has diplomatic significance especially at this time and in this place, where Israel and Jewish communities need to forge new alliances and strengthen existing ones."
The club's statement said, "We welcome Consul Akunis and thank him for his exceptional leadership."