Pninat Yanay has arrived in Athens to take over as Israel's new ambassador to Greece, releasing a video message to mark her arrival. The career lawyer and strategic advisor begins her diplomatic assignment following her formal appointment by Israeli authorities.
The video, published on social media by the official account of the Embassy of Israel in Greece, presents a personal view of her journey to the Greek capital. It documents her transition from Israel through to her first official visit at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Footage in the post showed Yanay packing her suitcases, embracing her parents, receiving help with her luggage from her daughter, and sharing a Greek salad at a table before departure. In a statement published alongside the video, Yanay said a new journey was starting between two nations connected by history, friendship, and shared values. She added that she looked forward to building bridges and further strengthening relations to bring the two peoples closer together.
Background in law and defense policy
Yanay comes to the post in Athens with a professional background extending beyond traditional diplomacy. She is a lawyer, strategic consultant, and analyst with experience in international relations, public diplomacy, and strategic communication. She has also appeared regularly in Israeli media as a commentator on political, legal, and defense issues.
According to the Israeli embassy, Yanay has worked with commercial companies operating across the defense, cybersecurity, internal security, and energy sectors. Following the attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, she launched LOVE ISRAEL, a platform dedicated to public diplomacy.
Strengthening Eastern Mediterranean ties
Yanay indicated her priorities for her time in Athens, stating that she intends to expand bilateral cooperation across all sectors while reaching out directly to wider Greek society. She replaces Noam Katz, who previously served as ambassador.
The Israeli diplomatic mission emphasized that Israel views Greece as a crucial partner in the Eastern Mediterranean. Israeli officials highlighted ongoing collaboration between the two nations in key areas including defense, energy, tourism, investment, innovation, and culture.
