President Reuven Rivlin welcomed Apple CEO Tim Cook to the President's Residence on Wednesday. Cook is visiting Israel as head of an Apple delegation ahead of the inauguration of the company's new local office in Herzliya. At the start of the meeting, Rivlin shook Cook's hand and said, "It is a great privilege to host you and your team here in Israel." "Your contribution to humanity is unprecedented. Even for me as one who prefers to write with a pen and paper, it is clear to me, when I see through my staff, and my grandchildren, what a great miracle you have created." Cook thanked the president and said, "We have an enormous admiration for Israel, not just as an important ally for the US, but as a place to do business." Rivlin congratulated Cook on Apple's new operations center in Herzliya, expressing his hope that it would employ people from a broad spectrum of Israeli society. "True innovation can only result from full access to education for all, regardless of race, religion, or sex. We would like to learn from your experience in the US, in bringing education and technology to periphery groups and communities." Rivlin said. Cook was accompanied by Apple's vice president of hardware technologies, Johny Srouji, an Israeli Arab from Haifa. Rivlin stressed how proud he was that Srouji was part of the delegation, saying, "Imagine what the world would be like with another five 'Johny Sroujis.' We are proud of him, and all he has achieved." Cook backed up the president's words, saying that the diversity of Apple's workforce was one of the reasons the company had achieved so much. Cook also met on Wednesday with former President Shimon Peres. Cook requested the meeting to discuss cooperation and ways that Apple as a global company could foster connections between people from different regions while promoting peace and tolerance through technology. At the start of the meeting, Peres told Cook: "I'm happy that you decided to open an Apple headquarters in Israel. There is no doubt that your company's leading technology and creativity fit in with the Israeli spirit." Cook told Peres that Israel and the creative Israeli mind were of enormous value to Apple, and that he was very proud to be opening the Herzliya offices.
