His Holiness have met the Minister of Internal Affairs of Israel Gideon Sa'ar in the patriarchal residence. The meeting has continued one and a half hour.

His Holiness noted that the Apostolic Church of Georgia and Georgian people especially love the state of Israel and the Jewish people. "We even have a belief that the blessing of the Hebrew is equivalent to the blessing of the Lord", - His Holiness stated, and on the Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust regretted that the international community at that time failed to prevent harassment and torture of millions of Jews by the Nazis.

Minister of Internal Affairs of Israel noted that the friendly relations between Georgia and Israel are the reason of his visit and that these relationships form the basis of an accelerated elimination of the visa regime for Georgian citizens. He also noted that it was particularly important for him that on Easter believers were able to cross the border of Israel in visa-free regime. "I am aware of the special respect, trust and love of the Georgian people and representatives of all nations living in Georgia to Your Holiness. This respect and recognition of your special contribution has long gone beyond Georgia, so I, as the representative of Israel, consider this meeting as a special honor", - stated the Minister and promised to His Holiness, within his competence, in every way to promote the interests of the Georgian Church in Israel.

His Holiness thanked the Minister for the warm welcome and asked to convey best wishes to the Prime Minister of Israel and President Peres.

The meeting was attended - the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Mr. Alexander Chikaidze, the Metropolitan of Khobi Saba (Gigiberia) and the head of the Foundation of the Catholicos-Patriarch Mr. Lasha Zhvania. On the Israeli side - Ambassador Yuval Fuchs and members of the delegation.