Foreign Minister Eli Cohen appointed two special envoys tasked with fostering innovation and combating antisemitism on Wednesday. They will collaborate with Israeli embassies worldwide to advance the interests of the State of Israel and the Foreign Ministry (MFA).
Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum has been named Israel’s special envoy for innovation. Michal Cotler-Wunsh has been named the special envoy to combat antisemitism.
“Today, we introduce two distinguished diplomats who will bolster Israeli diplomacy, possessing proven experience and exceptional capabilities,” Cohen said. “They will engage with diverse audiences and represent the State of Israel on the global stage.”
He added, “Their efforts will be closely coordinated and cooperative with the MFA headquarters and our diplomatic missions abroad. They will significantly amplify our presence on the world stage.
“The domains of combating antisemitism, social entrepreneurship, and innovation lie at the heart of the MFAs’ activities.”
Who are Fleur Hassan-Nahoum and Michal Cotler-Wunsh?
A social entrepreneur, Hassan-Nahoum founded the UAE-Israel Business Council and has championed Israeli innovation in global forums.
“In bringing high-level delegations to Jerusalem to invest in our ecosystem and traveling around the world representing our great nation, there is no better message than the robust economy Israel has built despite the odds, leveraging its spirit of innovation and solving humanities problems,” Hassan-Nahoum said.
“I look forward to amplifying this message on a global scale.”
Hassan-Nahoum is also the co-founder of the Gulf Israel Women’s Forum, which, like the business council, promotes economic relations between Israel and the Gulf states.
She was raised in Gibraltar as the daughter of the territory’s mayor and chief minister. Since 2016, she has served on the Jerusalem City Council, heading transportation and conservation of heritage sites.
Hassan-Nahoum was named deputy mayor in 2018 by Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion. Today, she oversees foreign relations, economic development, and tourism for the city.
“Fleur has done wonders for the innovation ecosystem of Jerusalem, and I have no doubt she will now do this for Israel on a global scale, representing us with honor and professionalism,” Lion said.
Cotler-Wunsh is an expert in international law who has worked as a publicist and researcher at the Anti-Terrorism Policy Institute.
Antisemitism is a toxic hate that transcends politics, religion, time, and geography, poisoning the places and spaces in which it takes hold. In this troubling time of rising and mainstreaming antisemitism, politicization is one of the central factors that enables it to fester,… pic.twitter.com/0Bexw6PuKz
— מיכל קוטלר-וונש | Michal Cotler-Wunsh (@CotlerWunsh) September 13, 2023
“Antisemitism is a toxic hate that transcends politics, religion, time, and geography, poisoning the places and spaces in which it takes hold. In this troubling time of rising and mainstreaming antisemitism, politicization is one of the central factors that enables it to fester, mutate, and permeate,” Cotler-Wunsh said.
She noted that her appointment comes “at a time of growing polarization, intersecting global and local challenges, and the blurring of lines between online hate and real-world harm. As special envoy, I will continue serving the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and the universal principles of life and liberty, for all to comprehensively identify and combat the scourge of antisemitism in all its forms.”
The two women join Rabbi Leo Dee, who recently assumed the role of special envoy for social initiatives.