The year that has elapsed since the celebration of Israel's 60th Independence Day has seen extreme challenges for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the region in addition to tremendous regional success and achievements.

In November 2008, Jewish communities throughout Asia and the world stood together watching the tragedy in Mumbai unfold. These images are still fresh in our minds and they offered the world a glimpse of the type of terror Israel is forced to defend against

Israeli Foreign Ministers then found themselves defending Israel's reputation across the region and helping to secure the safety of the Jewish and Israeli community as the most recent conflict in the Middle East erupted.