Former Israeli ambassador to the UK appointed as head of PMO National Public Diplomacy Directorate

Former Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely was appointed on Sunday as head of the National Public Diplomacy Directorate in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), filling the role after it had been left vacant for two years.The appointment came after the government unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to have Hotovely lead the directorate. She is expected to assume the position next week on Tuesday.The role has been vacant since May 2024, when Moshik Aviv resigned after holding the position for only eight months. Since then, the National Public Diplomacy Directorate has operated without a permanent head, despite multifront wars, sharp international criticism, and condemnation of Israel in recent years.Hotovely served as Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom between 2020 and 2025. She also previously held the portfolios of minister of settlement affairs, minister of diaspora affairs, and deputy foreign minister.PMO: Hotovely worked to 'promote the image of the State'“In her various roles, she worked, among other things, to promote the image of the State of Israel, gave numerous interviews to international media outlets worldwide, and was active on the international public diplomacy front, including during the war,” the Prime Minister's Office stated following the appointment.The government also approved the appointment of former Finance Ministry director-general Doron Cohen as Civil Service Commissioner.His term is also expected to begin next week on Tuesday, or upon completion of the procedures required under a conflict-of-interest arrangement, whichever is later, the PMO said. The appointment is for a six-year term.