Biography
Ishmael Khaldi was born and raised in the Bedouin village of Khawalid in the Western Galilee of Israel. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Haifa, and a Masters Degree in International Relations from Tel Aviv University. Ishmael served in the Israeli Defense Forces, Defense Ministry, and the Israeli Police, before being selected to join the Foreign Ministry in October 2004, becoming Israel’s first Bedouin Diplomat.
Ishmael initially served in the Arabic Media Department acting as the Spokesperson to the Arabic media during the disengagement from Gaza. He was then transferred to the North American Division until being selected for Deputy Consul General in San Francisco, where he was stationed between the years of 2006 – 2009.
Upon his return to Israel, Ishmael returned to the Foreign Ministry, this time as Policy Advisor for foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, focusing mainly on Middle East Issues, and Hasbarah/Public Diplomacy.
Topics for HR Missions
- “A Shepherd’s Journey” (July 2011)
