Consul General - Mr. Maor Elbaz-Starinsky
Maor Elbaz-Starinsky is serving as the Consul General of Israel in Miami since July 2021.
A career diplomat since 2006, he is committed to building partnerships and coalitions for Israel with the people and governments of Florida, Kansas, Missouri, and Puerto Rico.
CG Elbaz-Starinsky focuses on strengthening relations in the areas of politics, innovation and technology, trade and business, tourism, academia, media, and culture. He also works with the large and influential Jewish and Israeli communities in Florida, promoting interfaith cooperation, and combating antisemitism and racism.
In the years 2017-2021, CG Elbaz-Starinsky headed the Training department of the Foreign Ministry. He was responsible for the professional training, mid-career enrichment, and job retraining of the Ministry’s 1,200 employees. Recognized by the Ministry with an Award of Excellence, he developed a new process for recruiting and training the prestigious Diplomatic Cadet class each year. As a member of the Strategic Affairs Division, Maor represented Israel at various international forums and conferences, particularly in discussions related to Arms Control at international organizations. He also served as a Policy Adviser to the Israeli Delegation to the European Union and NATO, responsible for regional strategic security and NATO-related issues.
Maor’s first posting was as Deputy Ambassador at the Embassy of Israel in Nairobi, accredited to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, and the Seychelles Islands. During his tenure there, he became acquainted with Africa and was responsible for many important aid projects Israel is involved with, managing issues connected with security, agriculture, trade, and culture. He holds an MA, with distinction, in Conflict Management and Resolution from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He also attended a Master’s degree program in immunology at the Graduate School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University. His BA is in Biology from the Department of Biology at Tel Aviv University, where he ran projects in Marine and Molecular Biology. For his IDF service, he was a commander in the Paratroopers.
Maor is an avid runner who has completed two marathons – the Paris Marathon and the Midnight Sun Marathon in Northern Norway. He is also a scuba diver and marine enthusiast. Maor is joined in Miami by his wife, a Doctor of Genetics and expert in Forensic Science in Israel's National Police, and their five children.