Israeli ambassador to Russia to leave post ahead of schedule for ministry promotion

Israeli Ambassador to Russia, Simone Halperin, is set to conclude her diplomatic mission in Moscow earlier than initially scheduled, the Embassy of Israel confirmed.

Her departure is anticipated in October, though no successor has yet been appointed, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"Ambassador Halperin is expected to leave in October. A new candidate has not been determined yet," a spokesperson for the embassy said.

According to the mission, Ambassador Halperin's early departure is not related to diplomatic tensions or external developments but is instead tied to her upcoming appointment within Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Upon her return to Jerusalem, she will assume the role of head of the European Department, a senior position within the ministry.

Simone Halperin, who has served as Israel's Ambassador to Russia since November 2024, is a seasoned diplomat with a distinguished career spanning over three decades. Born in Riga in 1969, Halperin spent part of her early childhood in Leningrad before repatriating to Israel with her family in 1976.

Since joining the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993, Halperin has held a variety of prominent diplomatic posts across multiple continents. Her overseas assignments include postings in Kazakhstan, South Korea, and at Israel’s Permanent Mission to the European Union in Brussels. Between 2010 and 2015, she headed Israel’s unofficial representation in Taiwan. From 2017 to 2019, she served as Israel's Ambassador to Singapore and concurrently to East Timor.

Upon returning to Jerusalem, Halperin was appointed Deputy Head of the Eurasia and Western Balkans Department at the Foreign Ministry. In this capacity, she played a key role in shaping Israel’s diplomatic engagement with Russia and the wider post-Soviet region, areas of strategic importance for Israeli foreign policy.

By Vafa Guliyeva