Shuli Davidovich takes up post as Israel’s ambassador to Cyprus

Nicosia, Cyprus. Israel’s incoming ambassador, Shuli Davidovich, formally began her duties on Tuesday after presenting her credentials to Helena Mina, the Republic of Cyprus’ chief of state protocol.

Commitment to bilateral ties

Davidovich shared a video showing her attaching a badge bearing the Israeli and Cypriot flags to her jacket lapel. She said she would wear it proudly from that day forward as an emblem of friendship and the close relationship linking the countries.

She also expressed her eagerness to begin the ambassadorial role, strengthen the partnership, expand cooperation and foster closer connections between the two peoples.

Previous diplomatic roles

Before her appointment, Davidovich served as the Israeli foreign ministry’s coordinator dealing with hostages and people missing following attacks by the paramilitary group Hamas.

In January, she said every Israeli diplomat had regarded a hostage’s family as their own. She added that they were proud to report that no hostages remained in Gaza.

Her earlier posts included serving as Israel’s ambassador in Bucharest, deputy head of its mission to the European Union and senior foreign affairs adviser to former Israeli president Reuven Rivlin. She also held several spokesperson positions, among them a role at Israel’s London embassy.

During her London posting, Davidovich sharply criticised the British newspaper the Guardian. She said some people, particularly at publications such as the Guardian, failed to recognise Israelis’ human side, instead consistently portraying them through images of helmets and rifles, or as aggressors and occupiers.

She had previously said she lodged formal complaints with the Guardian on several occasions over its reporting on the Middle East conflict. According to Davidovich, the newspaper repeatedly responded that it found nothing wrong with its coverage.

Diplomatic support and settlement controversy

Cyprus’ government has provided diplomatic support to Israel over recent months and years. Last month, President Nikos Christodoulides received Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Nicosia. On arriving in the Cypriot capital, Herzog described Christodoulides as a very close friend.

The visit took place amid strong criticism of the Israeli government from other members of the international community following its publication in August of a construction tender for the planned E1 settlement.

The proposed settlement occupies land separating eastern Jerusalem from the Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Adumim. Ma’ale Adumim is situated along the Jerusalem–Jericho road, at a location from which Bedouin tribes were expelled after the 1967 six-day war.