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Joshua Zarka

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Joshua Laurent Zarka (born 1964) is an Israeli diplomat knows for his extensive diplomatic service, his contributions to counter-terrorism, and his role in fostering Israel's relations with various nations, including the United States, Russia and China.[1][2][3] He is currently the Israeli ambassador to France.[4][5] He previously served as the Deputy Director General for Strategic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel.[6]

Early life and education

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He immigrated to Israel in 1975 and pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History from the Hebrew University and a Master's degree in Political Science from the University of Haifa. Zarka is also a graduate of the Israeli National Defense College.[7]

Career

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Zarka started his career as an economist at the Israeli Ministry of Finance before starting his diplomatic career.[8]

His diplomatic career includes roles such as Deputy Director General for Strategic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel since July 2018. Prior to this, he served as Director of the North American Bureau from August 2015 to July 2018 and as Minister at the Embassy of Israel to the US between August 2011 and August 2015. He was also the Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister to Bahrain from March 2009 to August 2011.[9]

Zarka has contributed to the security of Israel and the world, through his involvement with the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT), where he has hosted and participated in several panels.[10][11][12][13]

Zarka has participated in high-level exchanges with multiple countries, emphasizing arms control and non-proliferation:

  • In Russia, he was involved in consultations on security matters with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov[14]
  • In China, he co-held a consultation on arms control and nonproliferation with Director-General Fu Cong of the Foreign Ministry's Department of Arms Control[15]
  • As a key Israeli representative, Zarka hosted the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) outreach visit in Israel in November 2019, focusing on the export controls for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies[16][17]

As an expert on Iranian nuclear issues,[18][19] Zarka has been integral in representing Israel's stance during critical nuclear talks. His efforts in Vienna in 2022 and insights shared in a "Le Monde" interview in 2021 highlight his deep understanding and strategic approach to the complexities of Iran's nuclear program and the geopolitical dynamics of the region[20][21][22][23]

In 2023 Zarka was nominated to be Israel’s ambassador to France.[24][25] He assumed the position in May 2024.[26][27] With the 2024 Olympics happening in Paris, Zarka spoke at a memorial honoring the Israeli athletes killed at the 1972 Munich Olympics.[28]

In 2015, U.S. Representative Mark Meadows formally recognized Joshua Zarka's work as the Minister for Congressional Affairs at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.[29] As Deputy Director General of the Foreign Ministry, Head of Strategic Affairs, Zarka met number of foreign delegations or represented Israel overseas.[30][31][32]

Personal Life

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Fluent in Hebrew, English, and French, Zarka is a father to four children.[33]

References

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  1. ^ "November 6 - Wednesday". State Department. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  2. ^ "On the meeting of Ambassador of Russia with Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel". Russian Embassy in Israel. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Joshua Zarka". Israel Embassry to USA. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Jashua Zarka Ambassador". Israel embassy to France. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Bank Hapoalim Chairman: "Israel stands at a crossroads"". calcalistech. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  6. ^ "אחרי כשנה ללא שגריר: יהושע זרקא ימונה לשגריר ישראל בצרפת - וואלה! חדשות". 23 November 2023.
  7. ^ "International Institute for Counter Terrorism". Ambassador Joshua Zarka. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Joshua Zarka - Minister for Congressional Affairs". Israel Embassy to USA. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Ambassador Joshua Zarka". International Institure for Counter Terrorism. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  10. ^ International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT). "Ambassador Joshua L. Zarka."
  11. ^ "Members of provisional Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee hear briefing on Iran from diplomatic and intelligence officials". Knesset. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Russia's Ulyanov Says No Discussion With Israelis Over Iran". Iran International. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  13. ^ "75th Anniversary of Israel". World Jewish Congress. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  14. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. "Consultation on Security Matters with Israel," November 6.
  15. ^ Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the State of Israel. "China-Israel Arms Control and Nonproliferation Consultation," November 29, 2018.
  16. ^ Government of Israel. "Israeli Statement at the Conclusion of the Wassenaar Arrangement Outreach Delegation Visit," November 20, 2019.
  17. ^ "Israeli Foreign Ministry Deputy Director General for Strategic Affairs Joshua Zarka". TV 7 Israel News. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Gaza witnessing 'unprecedented human catastrophe', UN says". France24. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  19. ^ "75th Anniversary of Israel". World Jewish Congress. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  20. ^ Axios. "Israel sends envoy to Vienna as nuclear talks reach crunch time," February 15, 2022.
  21. ^ Le Monde. "Nucléaire iranien: 'Nous ferons tout pour éviter que Téhéran soit sur le point de se doter d’une bombe'," November 30, 2021.
  22. ^ "Iran is attempting to open new front against Israel from Syria: Israeli official". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  23. ^ "Israel warns diplomacy proving fruitless in Iran nuclear talks". Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  24. ^ "Joshua Zarka becomes the new French ambassador to Israel". Radio Judaica. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Israel taps expert on Iran as new ambassador to France, almost a year after envoy quit". Times of Israel. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Joshua Zarka, le nouvel ambassadeur d'Israël en France, présente ses lettres de créance". i24 News. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Paris : un meeting contre la «haine des juifs et d'Israël» organisé ce mercredi". CNews.Fr. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  28. ^ "52e anniversaire des JO de Munich : Paris rend hommage aux athlètes israéliens assassinés". LeJDD. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  29. ^ U.S. Congressional Record, E1024. "Celebrating the Service of Joshua Zarka," by Hon. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, July 9, 2015.
  30. ^ "Azerbaijani president's aide receives senior Israeli diplomats". Caliber. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  31. ^ "Délégation parlementaire en Israël". Elnet. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  32. ^ "ELNET-UK Hosts First Delegation to Israel, Bringing Senior British Journalists". Elnet. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  33. ^ "Joshua Zarka Minister for Congressional Affairs". Embassy of Israel to USA. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
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