a.       “I work in the political section, and I am in charge of covering U.S. Foreign Affairs for basically the whole world, minus the Middle East. The work is twofold: to understand what is the US doing in the world, and to try insert our messages and our goals into US policy. It’s very difficult to find the right way and avenue to insert your own messages and quests and goals. It’s helpful that Israel is a very close ally of the US. Not only in that we have a special relationship, [but] we have generally the same values, goals, and geopolitical vision of the world.”

2.       How long have you been here at the Embassy?

a.       “Three years exactly.”

3.       What does it take to be a good diplomat?

a.       “You need to be curious; curiosity is the main thing. In a way a diplomat is an “investigator”. One needs to question his counterpart and to find the way to get the information out. Sometimes the ability to ask the hard questions and to know that very fine line between being very cordial and between being blunter. And you have to be out there. Literally, it’s a physical work. Diplomatic work is not done in the office. The work is out there, so you always have to be on the go. That’s the combination.”

4.       What motivates you to make a difference?

a.       “You see how unjust Israel is being treated. It does not matter what your political views are as a diplomat, you are always motivated because you see how it’s so skewed and so biased against Israel, that you are motivated to change it. And so that’s one thing. The second thing is that you realize that you can see the results of what you do. It’s almost like a feedback mechanism: you do something, 90% doesn’t [work], 10% works, and that 10% really keeps you going. And the third thing is we’re the good guys.

Israel, wherever we live and nestle, our everyday life in reality is unusual.

There is a story to tell, and in a way it’s still a miracle. It’s a miracle we keep our democracy and keep our values and keep our security and keep growing against all odds. We took 50 leaders from the Western Hemisphere to see this miracle. No matter who you take to Israel, they are always so impressed, and it makes you want to continue with that.”

5.       What positive impact can you see emerging through the work that you’ve done?

a.       “That’s a very hard question. I don’t know if I can quantify it or put it in a sentence. It’s an amalgamation of very tiny microscopic steps that you take. And one day two years down the road, you see a change of policy towards something you were working for. The change is not a rapid one, it’s a cumulative one, and you see it in tone, in language, in perceptions sometimes, in the way things are being approached. Then you know you’ve made something. sometimes you only see it two years down the road, three years down the road, when you’re no longer here.”

6.       What is an aspect of your job that people might be surprised by?

a.       “Being a woman doing this job comes with different perks and different experiences and different challenges. When I go to meetings, sometimes I feel like I have to prove myself twice as hard, especially when you look a little bit younger. They expect to see someone else and then this girl goes into the room. Diplomacy is still a man’s world. Women are just getting these positions. I think I’m the first woman to take this position. So definitely that is a challenge, and it’s changing. Back in the ministry we have had the first cadet course where we had a majority of women. We have more access to higher positions. These things weren’t there even 5 years ago, so I see where it’s headed.”

7.       What are your next steps? Where are you headed in the future?

a.       “I’m going back to the headquarters. I still don’t know what I’m going to do, but hopefully continue with the same part of the world. The trajectory is quite simple. You stay in the Ministry, eventually you become Head of Mission. You have to wait five years or ten or fifteen, but definitely being a Head of Mission somewhere would be great. Somewhere I want would be even better. That’s where I’m headed. After that, the sky’s the limit.”

8.       Anything else would you like to share with us?

a.       “One thing. I think this is one of the best, the most interesting jobs out there. There is nothing like this. With all the cynicism, the way the world is, you enter a room in a foreign country, and you’re changing something. Even if you work in foreign relations in a private company, at the end of the day you represent this company. We represent a notion. Israel is a notion. It is an idea, and you represent this. It’s quite remarkable when you think about it like that.”

Einat Weiss: Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs

Einat assumed her position as Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs at the Embassy of Israel in Washington DC, in August 2016. Previously, she served as Advisor to the Director General, The Bureau of the Director General at the MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). From 2010-2013 Ms. Weiss was the Spokesperson, Public Relations Officer and Political Advisor at the Embassy of Israel in Canberra, Australia and from 2008-2009 she served as a Desk Officer at the International Organizations Department at the MFA. Before Joining the Ministry, Ms. Weiss worked as Deputy Director at the International Relations Division, Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce (2007-2008). Ms. Weiss holds an M.A. Degree in Diplomacy at Tel Aviv University and a B.A. Degree in Psychology and Communication at Haifa University.