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The ambassador

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel to Hungary, Yacov Hadas-Handelsman

H.E. Yacov Hadas-Handelsman
Amb. Yacov Hadas-Handelsman

PERSONAL DETAILS:

Born: 22 August 1957, Tel Aviv, Israel

Married to Ita Hadas-Handelsman, three sons

EDUCATION:

M.A. – Near East Studies, Hebrew University Jerusalem - 2000

B.A. – International Relations and Near East Studies, 
          University of Tel Aviv - 1983

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

2019-2024      Ambassador of Israel to Hungary, Budapest

2017-2019        Israel’s Special Envoy for Sustainability and Climate 
                        Change, and also, Co-chairman of the Inter-Ministerial 
                        Task Force, which issued Israel’s first voluntary national
                        report (VNR) submitted to the UN in July 2019
                        Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem

2012-2017       Ambassador of Israel to Germany, Berlin

2011-2012        Ambassador of Israel to the European Union and NATO, Brussels, Belgium

2006-2011       Deputy Director General, Head of the Middle East and Peace Process Division
                        (in charge of Israel’s relations with the Arab world, member of the Negotiating 
                        Team with the Palestinians / civil affairs, “Annapolis Process”), and also, 
                        Deputy Chairman of the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC - Muscat, Oman)
                        Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem

2003-2006     Ambassador of Israel to The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Amman

2001-2003      Ambassador, Head of the Israeli Trade Representation Office
                        Doha, Qatar

1999-2001       Diplomatic Advisor to the Deputy Foreign Minister
                        Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem

1998-1999        Director, Syria and Lebanon Department, Center for Political Research
                        (involved in another round of the Syrian peace talks)
                        Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem

1993-1998        Counsellor for Political and Middle East Affairs 
                        Israeli Embassy in London, United Kingdom

1991-1993         Syria Desk Officer, Center for Political Research 
                        (also involved in the Syrian track of the peace talks in Washington D.C. – the Madrid process)
                        Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem

1989-1991         Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) 
                        (responsible for bilateral- and United Nations issues)
                        Israeli Embassy in Vienna, Austria

1986-1989        Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM)
                        Israeli Legation in Ankara, Turkey

1984-1986        Academic Fellow at The Rothschild Foundation

1983                Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem

1975-1983        Military service (attained the rank of Captain)

LANGUAGES:

Hebrew, English, German, Arabic and Turkish