In order to fill a vacancy that has existed in the National Public Diplomacy Directorate since the inception of the government almost eight months ago, the Israeli Cabinet on Sunday unanimously authorized the appointment of Moshe „Moshik” Aviv.
Aviv, who was proposed for the position by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will be in charge of preserving Jerusalem’s connections with the international press, including outlining government policy and organising press conferences.
The National Public Diplomacy Directorate, housed in the Prime Minister’s Office, is a distinct organization from Israel’s Public Diplomacy Ministry, which is charged with preventing the delegitimization of the Jewish state.
Aviv’s lengthy background in the government was praised by Netanyahu in a news release announcing his selection.
He has held a number of Jobs within the Ministry of Culture and Sport, including eight years as the director of the division responsible for state ceremonies and public diplomacy.
Aviv served in the Israel Defense Forces in a number of educational and cultural positions as well. Lior Haiat, a spokesman for the foreign ministry, most recently served as the Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s deputy in the National Public Diplomacy Directorate.
Following the Civil Service Commission’s denial of his candidate, Dr. Ran Baratz, in 2015, Netanyahu did not select a head of public diplomacy during his previous tenure as prime minister.
Baratz was instead employed as a „senior consultant” in the Prime Minister’s Office, performing virtually the same tasks as the director of the National Public Diplomacy Directorate.
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