The new press attaché to the Israeli Embassy in London will be Amir Ofek, a 43-year old career diplomat.
Mr Ofek, a former infantry officer and graduate of Tel Aviv University, joined the Foreign Ministry’s cadet course in 1995 on the “communications and culture” track. His main foreign postings have been as first secretary at the embassy in Chile, and consul for public afairs at the New York consulate. He also served shorter periods in Belarus, El Salvador and Georgia.
In his home postings, Mr Ofek served as head of the performing arts section in the Division of Cultural and Scientific Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, where he was in charge of sending Israeli stage acts abroad. His most recent position was with the Iberian and Italian Department of the Ministry’s Europe desk. He has also served as a spokesman to the Spanish media during major crises.
Before joining the Foreign Ministry he worked as a Hebrew teacher and in Jewish Agency educational projects in Israel and the former Soviet Union.
The appointment of a diplomat of Mr Ofek’s experience is a sign of the importance that the Foreign Ministry attaches to the British media, which is seen as among the most hostile in the world to Israeli policy.
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