Culture Minister Ed Vaizey painted a glowing picture of Israeli arts supporters when he spoke at the British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel dinner.
Mr Vaizey told the 500 guests that he was a "strong supporter of Israel, a country I love and admire". He thanked those present for continuing to back the arts in Israel and Britain.
The event was held at the London premises of art auction house Phillips de Pury, whose chairman Simon de Pury was so keen to host the dinner that he agreed to BFAMI's request that some walls be removed on the first floor to create a space large enough for all the guests to be seated together.
Sadness was expressed at the death earlier this year of Professor Mordecai Omer, director of the Tel Aviv Museum from 1995. Acting director Shuli Kislev paid tribute to her late colleague's "overwhelming commitment to his role and his true love of art".
