Summer is traditionally the season for the ambassadorial exodus and the arrival of new ambassadors to take their places. The new ambassadors remain in the category of designate until they present their letters of credence together with the letters of recall of their predecessors to the president of the state.
Six new ambassadors from countries on four continents presented credentials to President Isaac Herzog on Monday. They were: Saman Kumar Chandrasiri of Sri Lanka; Beka Dvali of Georgia; Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu of Nigeria; Alexander Graf Lambsdorff of Germany; Gabriel Alejandro Zaliasnik Schilkurt of Chile; and Jose Luis Nunez Bennet of Honduras. Bennet had the shortest distance to travel, as his country’s embassy is in Jerusalem.
Each ambassador had a separate meeting with the president, who also took an interest in the members of their respective entourages, including spouses, children and honorary consuls.
When speaking with the ambassador of Sri Lanka, Herzog mentioned that in 1986, his parents had visited there in the course of their long trip through countries of the Pacific. He said that he would very much like to visit Sri Lanka, which he knows is a very popular tourist destination for Israelis. He also noted that there is great potential for expanding relations between Israel and Sri Lanka. “We have a lot to share and a lot to do,” Herzog said.
When discussing trade relations, the ambassador, Chandrasiri, said that Sri Lanka is interested in developing its tourism industry, while on a personal level, he is interested in joining one of Israel’s cricket clubs.
President Isaac Herzog is pictured with the new Ambassador of Nigeria to Israel, Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu on August 3, 2026. (credit: Oz Schechter)To the Georgian ambassador, Dvali, Herzog disclosed that he had grown up on the epic poem The Knight in the Tiger’s Skin by Georgia’s national poet Shota Rustoveli. It had been given to him by the woman who had been his mother’s nanny when she was in Africa.
Herzog told Dvali that there are a number of Georgian churches in Israel, and Dvali responded that he looked forward to visiting them. They also discussed relations between their two countries, which have been long-lasting and largely good.
“We have a good working relationship with Israel,” Dvali said, noting, too, that relations with Georgia’s Jewish community have been good for centuries.
He described Georgia’s Jewish community as “interesting and impressive” with a rich cultural heritage. Since Georgia became independent, he said, it has evolved into a parliamentary republic with a vibrant democracy and a liberal society.
Nigeria’s Ufochukwa and her entourage arrived in national dress, with all the men attired in white. The only member in Western garb was her young daughter Valerie, who will soon be a pupil at the International School – whose student population is primarily composed of the offspring of members of the foreign diplomatic corps.
A corporate lawyer and policy consultant, the ambassador is not a professional diplomat, and Israel is her first diplomatic posting. She has earned an admirable reputation in Nigeria, a factor that caused Herzog to say admiringly that he had heard a lot about her.
The challenges that Israel faces in its relations with some African states were brought up in conversation, and Herzog suggested that Nigeria might be able to assist in improving Israel’s ties with Africa. Her main task, she said, was to strengthen ties between Nigeria and Israel.
Referring to the German ambassador’s middle name, Graf, which translates as “count” or “earl” and could indicate that he is descended from nobility, Herzog expressed curiosity about Lambsdorff’s family background.
Herzog, German ambassador discuss Russian posting
Part of their conversation was devoted to the ambassador’s previous posting in Russia. He said that he was a strong believer in dialogue there and in dialogue in the Middle East, and emphasized the importance of looking at the human side of hostilities, as well as the pain suffered all round.
One of Israel’s greatest friends in Germany is President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who visited Israel when he was foreign affairs minister and as vice-chancellor, as well as several times since becoming president.
Lambsdorff, in addition to being a diplomat, is a politician who served in both the German Bundestag and the European Parliament.
He also brought three hats with him to Israel, which he featured on social media. Herzog presented him with a fourth – a white kova tembel, the kind of headgear worn by kibbutzniks in the early years of the state. This one was somewhat different in that it bore the flags of Israel and Germany.
The Hebrew-speaking ambassador of Chile is a former president of his country’s Jewish community. By profession, he is an influential criminal-defense attorney, a law professor, and a diplomat – appointed by President Antonio Kert, whom Herzog met during his state visit to Costa Rica in May, and with whom he hopes to meet again in Israel.
Board of Peace among topics discussed between Herzog, ambassadors
Herzog discussed the situation in Gaza with some of the new ambassadors, saying that he sees some positive elements in the Board of Peace under the auspices of US President Donald Trump.
He stressed that the disarmament of Hamas is essential in order to move forward, and commended the Americans for all their efforts towards this end, adding that he prayed for the day that Israel could dialogue with its Palestinian neighbors
Herzog and the Chilean ambassador shared their mutual views on the vision of hope that would spell peace for Israel and for Gaza.
Honduras was among those countries that officially recognized Israel in 1948, the year of the state’s establishment. In 2021, it moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. However, his posting is not the ambassador’s first time in the capital. Twenty years ago, Bennet brought his wife and children to Jerusalem on vacation. He told Herzog that he considers himself “highly honored” to return as ambassador.
Herzog wanted to know whether Honduras has a Jewish community. The answer was affirmative, though the number was very low. As far as is known, only 1,000 Jews live in Honduras.
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