NYC Gazette

On February 25, 2025, the Senator Joseph Lieberman – Mitzner Center for Public Service and Advocacy hosted Israel Nitzan, former Deputy Consul General & Acting Consul General of Israel. This event was part of the "In Dialogue With" speaker series and was attended by over 40 students. The discussion was co-sponsored by the S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program and moderated by Lieberman-Mitzner Scholar Daniella Landau.

Israel Nitzan began his talk with an overview of his career in foreign service. He studied Middle East History and International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem before working at the Israeli embassy in Cairo, Egypt. Later, he joined the Southeast Asia department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although initially unenthusiastic about this posting due to his background in Middle Eastern studies, Nitzan found value in embracing change and new challenges. He advised students to “never turn down the opportunity to learn something new.”

Nitzan also spoke about his tenure at the United Nations (UN), where he served as a Counselor for Political Affairs at Israel’s UN Mission and Director of the Foreign Ministry’s U.N. Political Affairs Department. “We have a problem with the UN,” Nitzan stated, citing excessive politicization that has rendered it almost irrelevant in critical international relations areas over recent years. He criticized current UN leadership for its lack of influence on major conflicts like those in Ukraine and Gaza.

Nitzan argued that organizations such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRAW) exemplify what he sees as bias against Israel within the UN system. He pointed out that Palestinians are unique among refugee groups because their status is passed down through generations, which he attributes to political bias rather than genuine concern.

Despite these challenges, Nitzan emphasized that representing Israel internationally is crucial for its safety and security. He noted that behind-the-scenes collaboration occurs even between countries publicly seen as adversaries: “Diplomacy, at the end of the day,” he said, “is about people.”

For students aspiring to careers in diplomacy or international relations, Nitzan acknowledged potential difficulties due to travel demands and biases but highlighted significant rewards: “It is a great privilege to represent your country,” he concluded.

The "In Dialogue With" series has previously featured speakers such as Honorable Clarine Nardi Riddle, Jonathan Greenspun from Mercury public affairs firm, and Matthew Incantalupo from YU's political science department.