Key position filled: Noam Shapira appointed as Director of the National Public Diplomacy Headquarters

[96928] Key position filled: Noam Shapira appointed as Director of the National Public Diplomacy Headquarters

Key position filled: Noam Shapira appointed as Director of the National Public Diplomacy Headquarters

After a period of about three years during which the position was not filled, the Head of the National Public Diplomacy Directorate, Tzipi Hotovely, announced today the appointment of Noam Shapira to the position of Director of the National Public Diplomacy Headquarters. The appointment was approved unanimously by an examination committee, as reported in Hot News and by Ariel Kahana.

Shapira (44), a resident of Kibbutz Meirav and a father of five, is a Lt. Col. (res.) and a graduate of Sayeret Matkal. According to the report in Hot News, in recent years Shapira led significant efforts in the fields of public diplomacy and consciousness under the Operations Directorate, including work on "international public diplomacy, leveraging strategic partnerships for Israel, and establishing the freedom of action of the IDF in the War of Revival."

Head of the Public Diplomacy Directorate, Tzipi Hotovely, welcomed the appointment and noted that Shapira "brings with him management capability, strategic thinking, and in-depth understanding in the worlds of public diplomacy." Michael Shemesh and ynet news emphasized in their coverage the fact that the position remained unfilled for three long years until the current appointment. News Arena also noted Hotovely's announcement regarding the selection of Shapira for the key position.

The sources that covered the event, including media channels with a tendency toward political-security coverage, presented the appointment as a strategic step to strengthen the system against the challenges facing the State of Israel.