Ten new ambassadors and one consul general were appointed July 5 — a record number rarely seen in Israel in recent years. All of the new envoys are career diplomats, and all of them have served in multiple senior positions in Israel and abroad. The impressive list includes three women — Hagit Ben-Yaakov, Meirav Eilon Shahar and Zehavit Ben Hillel. And it also includes Israel’s first Bedouin ambassador — Ismail Haldi.
With most of the new envoys expected to take up office at the beginning of September, they have little time to prepare. Still, the atmosphere at the ministry in Jerusalem seems to be festive.
