{{Short description|Israeli diplomat}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Gilad Cohen | image = Gilad Cohen.jpg | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|10|11}} | birth_place = Jaffa, Israel | native_name = גלעד כהן | office = Ambassador of Israel to Japan | term_start = October 2021 | office1 = Deputy Director General for Asia and Pacific Division | term_end1 = October 2021 | term_start1 = October 2017 | office2 = Deputy Director General for Coordination and Policy Planning | term_start2 = May 2014 | term_end2 = October 2017 | alma_mater = Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University | occupation = Diplomat | native_name_lang = he }}
'''Gilad Cohen''' (Hebrew: גלעד כהן; born October 11, 1967) is an Israeli diplomat in the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Cohen serves as the Ambassador of Israel to Japan since October 2021. From 2017 to 2021, he served as the Deputy Director General for Asia and Pacific division at the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2014 to 2017, he served as the Deputy Director General for Coordination and Policy Planning, in the Israel Foreign Ministry.
==Personal background== Gilad Cohen was born in 1967 in Jaffa, Israel. Cohen is fluent in Hebrew, English, and Portuguese. He is married, and has three children. Cohen graduated with a B.A. Degree in Political Science and International Relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He received his M.A. Executive studies in Security and Diplomacy from Tel Aviv University.
==Career== ===Early years=== In 1994, Cohen was accepted to the Foreign Ministry (Diplomatic) cadet course. Upon completion, he joined the Foreign Service. From July 1996 to August 1999, he served as the Political Secretary and Spokesperson in the Embassy of Israel in Brasilia, Brazil.
===Service in Turkey=== From August 1999 to August 2001, he served as the Political Secretary and Spokesperson for the Embassy of Israel in Ankara, Turkey. During those years, Cohen engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts during a period considered to be the “golden age” of Israel-Turkey relations. These include Israel’s humanitarian support to Turkey after the 1999 Izmit earthquake<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/aid/pages/israeli%20aid%20for%20turkish%20earthquake%20victims.aspx#:~:text=18%20Aug%201999&text=Immediately%20after%20news%20of%20the,rescue%20equipment%20and%20rescue%20dogs|title=Israeli Aid for Turkish Earthquake Victims|website=Mfa.gov.iul|access-date=December 7, 2021}}</ref> and high level official visits by Prime Minister Ehud Barak<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mfa.gov.il/MFA/PressRoom/1999/Pages/Prime%20Minister%20Barak%20to%20Visit%20Turkey%20-%2024-Oct-99.aspx|title=Prime Minister Barak to Visit Turkey-24-Oct-99|website=Mfa.gov.iul|access-date=December 7, 2021}}</ref> and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/meast/08/08/turkey.sharon/index.html|title=CNN.com - Sharon: Israel set for concessions - August 8, 2001|website=CNN|access-date=7 December 2021}}</ref> to Turkey.
===Service in the Bureau of Coordination (first term)=== From August 2001 to March 2004, he served as the Political Counselor for the Director General of Israel Foreign Ministry.
===Service in Israel's Permanent Mission to the United Nations=== From August 2004 to August 2008, Cohen was appointed as Political Counselor in Israel's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. He served as one of the key diplomats who led the efforts which resulted in the conclusion of UN General Assembly resolution, which designated January 27 as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/international-holocaust-remembrance-day-almost-didnt-happen/|title=International Holocaust Remembrance Day almost didn't happen|website=Blogs.timesofisrael.com|access-date=7 December 2021}}</ref> Cohen was also involved in the acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the 2006 Lebanon war. For his outstanding work at the UN, Cohen received the Civil Service award of Excellence.
===Service in the Bureau of Coordination (second term)=== From August 2008 to July 2011, Cohen returned to the Bureau for Coordination as Director, and from July 2011 to May 2014, he served as Head of the Bureau for Coordination. Cohen became Deputy Director General for the Coordination and Diplomacy Planning from May 2014 until October 2017. During his second tenure in the Bureau for Coordination, Cohen was responsible for the establishment of representative offices and discreet relations with the Gulf states which ultimately resulted in the normalization of relations in 2020 and the signing of the Abraham Accords.
===Deputy Director General for Asia and Pacific Division=== From October 2017 to 2021, Cohen served as the Head of Asia and Pacific Division. During this term Cohen was the highest ranking Israeli official to visit Bhutan and was responsible for the efforts towards establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and Bhutan in 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/international/israel-normalizes-ties-with-bhutan-651904|title=Israel normalizes ties with Bhutan|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=7 December 2021}}</ref> He also contributed in reaching to a Free Trade Agreement with South Korea in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israel-signs-free-trade-agreement-with-south-korea-668644|title=Israel signs free trade agreement with South Korea|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=7 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://everythingexperiential.businessworld.in/article/The-advantages-of-free-trade-agreements-with-Asia-Gilad-Cohen-Ministry-of-Foreign-Affairs-Israel/23-09-2020-323584|title=The advantages of free-trade agreements with Asia— Gilad Cohen, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel|website=Everythingexperiential.businessworld.in|access-date=7 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-korea-free-trade-agreement-to-stress-tech-cooperation-1001346517|title=Israel-Korea free trade agreement to stress tech cooperation|date=21 October 2020|access-date=7 December 2021|website=En.globes.co.il}}</ref> As DDG for Asia and the Pacific, Cohen designed and led the "Israel Looks East" policy which channels the Israeli foreign policy more towards Asia & the Pacific and resulted in numerous bilateral agreements i.e. the Free Trade Agreement signed with South Korea in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/opinion/israel-is-looking-east-574588|title=Israel is looking East|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=7 December 2021}}</ref>
===Ambassador to Japan=== On June 20, 2021, the Israeli government approved Cohen’s appointment as the Ambassador of Israel to Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/government-appoints-36-diplomats-a-move-held-up-by-netanyahu-for-over-6-months/|title=Government appoints 36 diplomats, a move held up by Netanyahu for over 6 months|first=Lazar|last=Berman|website=Timesofisrael.com|date=20 June 2021 |access-date=7 December 2021}}</ref> He took office in October of the same year. On November 5, he called on General Shunji Izutsu, Chief of Staff, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and they formally shared the importance of strengthening bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges.<ref>[https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/English_page/news/release/2021/20211108-2en.pdf Visit of the Israeli Ambassador, His Excellency Mr. Gilad Cohen to General Izutsu, Chief of Staff, Koku-Jieitai], Ministry of Defense of Japan, Retrieved December 21, 2021. {{Archive url|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221235617/https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/English_page/news/release/2021/20211108-2en.pdf|date=2021-12-21}}</ref>
Cohen presented his letter of credence to Emperor Naruhito on November 25, 2021.<ref>[https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/release/press4_009190.html Presentation of Letter of Credence by Ambassador of Israel to Japan (駐日イスラエル大使の信任状捧呈)] (Japanese), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohen, Gilad}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Ambassadors of Israel to Japan Category:Hebrew University of Jerusalem alumni Category:Tel Aviv University alumni