Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Israel to Russia
Simone Halperin is a distinguished career diplomat serving as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Israel to Russia.
Prior to her appointment in Moscow, Ms. Halperin led the Department of Eurasia and Western Balkans and held the position of Deputy Director General at the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
From 2017 to 2019, she was Israel's Ambassador to Singapore and East Timor. Between 2010 and 2015, she headed the Israel Economic and Cultural Authority in Taipei.
Born in Riga in 1969, Simona Halperin spent her early childhood in Leningrad before immigrating to Israel in 1976 under the repatriation program.
Before joining the Foreign Service in 1993, Ms. Halperin earned a bachelor's degree in economics and business administration and completed her mandatory military service as an economic and budget specialist. Following her military service, she obtained her master's degree with honors in Legislation and Public Administration from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she also taught cost-effectiveness analysis. She later received a second Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Haifa, specializing in strategy and national defense.
Throughout her 25-year diplomatic career, Simone Halperin has held various significant positions, including Deputy Head of the diplomatic mission in Kazakhstan and South Korea, Advisor to the Israeli mission to the EU in the European Parliament, and Director of the Department of Human Rights and Cooperation with International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ms. Halperin has been recognized with the “Outstanding Worker (Excellent Team)” award on several occasions: in 1998 (during her service in South Korea), in 2000 (for organizing the visit of Pope John Paul II to Israel), and in 2023 (as head of the Eurasia Department).
Simone Halperin is fluent in Hebrew, English, and Russian.