Jitender Pal Singh Named India's New Ambassador to Israel

On January 24, 2025, the Government of India announced the appointment of Jitender Pal Singh as its next Ambassador to Israel. A 2002-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, Singh is currently serving in the office of the External Affairs Minister. Previously, he led the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division within the Ministry of External Affairs, which started in 2020.

Professional Background

Throughout his diplomatic career, Singh has held key positions, including:

• Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan (2014-2019): He was crucial in managing India’s diplomatic relations with Pakistan.
• Posting in Kabul (2008-2012): Singh served in Afghanistan during a time when the Indian embassy was targeted in two major terror attacks, gaining valuable crisis management experience.

In recent years, Singh has been instrumental in Track 1.5 engagements with Pakistan and has also been the Ministry’s main contact for interactions with the Afghan Taliban following the fall of the Ashraf Ghani government in 2021. His discussions with Taliban leaders led to high-level talks, including a meeting between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Dubai earlier this month.

Context of the Appointment

Singh’s appointment comes at a crucial moment, as Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire after 15 months of conflict, which began with the October 7, 2023, terror attacks. His deep experience in managing diplomatic relations in volatile regions makes him well-suited to strengthen India’s strategic and technological ties with Israel. Israel is home to over 32,000 Indian nationals, further emphasizing the importance of this diplomatic role.

Predecessor’s Transition

Singh takes over from Sanjeev Kumar Singla, who served as India’s Ambassador to Israel from 2019 until his recent appointment as Ambassador to France in October 2024. Singla’s tenure was marked by significant diplomatic efforts, including high-level visits and enhanced bilateral relations.

India-Israel Diplomatic Relations: A Historical Overview

India officially recognized Israel in 1950, but full diplomatic relations were only established in January 1992. Since then, the two countries have built strong ties in defense, agriculture, and technology. A significant milestone came in 2017 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel, further strengthening the bilateral relationship.

In Conclusion

The selection of Jitender Pal Singh as India's Ambassador to Israel represents a pivotal milestone in bolstering the strategic partnership between the two nations, particularly in the wake of recent turmoil.

Leveraging his rich diplomatic background, garnered from navigating complex environments in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Singh is well-positioned to elevate the India-Israel cooperation in defense, technology, and the well-being of the sizable leadership transition occurs at a moment of revitalized collaboration, building upon the foundational work of his predecessor Sanjeev Kumar Singla, who was instrumental in nurturing a stronger diplomatic bond between the two countries.