The Ministry of External Affairs declared on January 24, 2025, that Jitender Pal Singh would be the next Indian ambassador to Israel.
Singh, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from the 2002 batch, is now the Joint Secretary in charge of the ministry’s Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran section.
Sanjeev Singla, who served as ambassador from 2019 until 2024, will be replaced by him. Significant positions like Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan and other posts in Afghanistan and Turkey are among Singh’s many diplomatic experiences.
Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, he has been actively involved with the government, helping to facilitate communication between Taliban commanders and Indian authorities.
Given the recent events involving Israel and Hamas and the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Singh’s appointment comes at a critical juncture for India-Israel relations.
As Israel, which is home to a sizable Indian diaspora, and India continue to deepen their strategic and technological relations, the job is seen as crucial.
