Ambassador Rafael Harpaz

Ambassador Rafael Harpaz arrived in the Philippines on August 2018. Prior to his designation as Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines, he served as the Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MFA) Central Asia and Caucasus Department since December 2015.

He served as Israel’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan (2012-2015), and Director of Public Affairs Department in the Embassy of Israel in Washington D.C. (2005-2009). He also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of Israel in Stockholm, Sweden (1999-2003), Bern, Switzerland (1993-1997), and Abidjan, Ivory Coast (1991-1993).

In MFA’s head office in Jerusalem, Ambassador Harpaz served as the Head of Economic Department (Africa, America) from 2009-2012, Export Control Coordinator of Division of Strategic Affairs (2003-2005), and Deputy Director of North Africa Division (1997-1999). He joined the MFA in 1989.

Ambassador Harpaz holds a BA degree in International Relations and Supplementary Studies from Hebrew University, and a Master’s degree, with distinction, in Diplomacy and Security Studies from Tel Aviv University.

His wife is Shulamit Harpaz and they have three sons – Assaf, Yoav and Gil.