Superb 1954 diplomatic passports

Serving in Tel Aviv.

 

Some of the rarest of passports to locate are those of official service in the young State of Israel. Though Israel was established on May 14^th 1948, it was only in 1949 that it was accepted into the United Nations and former recognition by other international countries was not instant, and it took years to reach the state where Israel was welcomed by the international community. The decision to recognize Israel was also part of the Cold War struggles, with political powers fighting against each other, and Israel was caught in the middle.

 

The two passports here were issued in 1954 at the Brazilian legation in Tel Aviv. Issued to the official secretary of the diplomatic mission in Israel and to his wife: Lyle Amaury da Fontoura Tarrisse and Mrs. Elza Tarrisse da Fontoura (he himself signed and issued the two passports).

 

To date I could not locate much information on this diplomat’s official business while stationed here in Israel, but paging through the passport I could see that he made frequent trips to neighboring Lebanon. He entered Israel, after serving a term in London as vice consul from 1952, on June 30^{th, 1954,} via Lod airport (now Ben Gurion international airport). His first exit and entry to Lebanon and back to Israel was a month later.

 

The passport has numerous entry & exit stamps from northern Israel at the border crossing Ros-Haniqra, Lebanon side at Nakoura. Could he have also been representing his country in Lebanon but based in Israel?

Or was he mediating for both countries from 1954 to 1956, the year he left Israel? His passport indicates he is the secretary of the legation, or Chargé d’Affaires (He was also the ambassador to Lebanon from 1983-1986).

 

I will now give you the time to admire this rare and important passport.

Enjoy the images.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for reading “Our Passports”.