Amit Mekel
Amit Mekel | |
|---|---|
| עמית מקל | |
 Amit Mekel in 2024 | |
| Israeli Ambassador to Paraguay | |
| Assumed office 7 October 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Benjamin Netanyahu |
| Preceded by | Yoed Magen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Amit Makalda 20 February 1980 Daliyat al-Karmel, Israel |
| Citizenship | Israeli |
| Spouse | Keren Mekel |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
Amit Mekel (Hebrew: עמית מקל; born Amit Makalda, 20 February 1980) is an Israeli diplomat. Since 2024, he is the Israeli Ambassador to Paraguay.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Mekel was born Amit Makalda, in the Druze village Daliyat al-Karmel on 20 February 1980.[2] At 14, he moved to Haifa, to study at the Hugim Highschool.[2] He served as a paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces for five years and then went to graduate with a bachelor's degree in diplomacy and strategy at Reichman University and a master's degree in diplomacy and security at Tel Aviv University.[2] He is pursuing a doctorate at the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University.
Diplomatic career
[edit]Mekel's first diplomatic mission was as spokesperson at the Israeli embassy of Cairo, followed by three years as the vice consul general in Sao Paulo, Brazil.[2][3] He then served as advisor for the Middle East peace process in the Israeli delegation to the European Union and NATO in Brussels, Belgium,[2] followed by serving as the deputy director of European International Division in Israel.[2]
Mekel's first major post was as Deputy chief of mission in the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles,[4] making him the first Druze and non-Jewish diplomat to hold a senior role representing Israel in the Pacific Southwest.[3][5] For his contribution to socialization and human rights in this position, he received an honorary doctorate from the Latin University of Theology.[6] In 2024 he was appointed Israeli Ambassador to Paraguay,[1] and he presented his credentials to Santiago Peña, the president of Paraguay on 6 November 2024.[7]
Personal life
[edit]Mekel is married to Keren since 2010, and is the father of three children.[8] Married to a Jewish woman, Mekel chose to raise his children as Jewish, adopting the surname Mekel after his first child's birth.[2] He speaks Hebrew, Arabic, English and Portuguese.[9] In 2024 he released the book "The Journey to Israeliness" ("המסע לישראליות"), which tells his life journey.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "הודעת מזכיר הממשלה בתום ישיבת הממשלה מיום 18 באוגוסט 2024" [Announcement from the Cabinet Secretary at the end of the Cabinet meeting of August 18, 2024]. www.gov.il (in Hebrew). 18 August 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Odeh-Carantinji, Samar (1 January 2025). "Meet Israel's ambassador to Paraguay, Amit Mekel Madalit El Carmel". חי פֹּה. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ a b "הדיפלומט הדרוזי מהרצליה שהפך שגריר ישראל בפרגוואי. בקרוב הספר" [The Druze diplomat from Herzliya who became Israel's ambassador to Paraguay. Book coming soon]. שרון אונליין (in Hebrew). 28 November 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ "About the embassy". embassies.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ Harrison, Donald H. (27 January 2024). "Druze Diplomat Emphasizes Importance of Transcending Religious, Cultural Boundaries". San Diego Jewish World. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
first non-Jewish Israeli diplomat in this region
- ^ "Nuevo embajador de Israel ya se encuentra en Asunción" [Israel's new ambassador is already in Asuncion]. Última Hora (in Spanish). 12 October 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ "Presidente Peña recibe cartas credenciales de nuevos embajadores" [President Peña receives credentials from new ambassadors]. Presidencia de la República del Paraguay (in Spanish). 6 November 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ "דרוזי גאה: כך הפך סגן הקונסול הכללי בלוס אנג׳לס עמית מקל לשגריר ישראל בפארגוואי" [Proud Druze: This is how Deputy Consul General in Los Angeles Amit Mekel became Israel's ambassador to Paraguay]. Shavua Israeli (in Hebrew). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ "Portal Oficial del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de la República del Paraguay :: Nuevo embajador de Israel presenta copias de cartas credenciales a Canciller Nacional" [New Israeli ambassador presents copies of credentials to Foreign Minister]. www.mre.gov.py. 10 November 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.