Israels ambassador to Russia will step down from her post ahead of schedule, the RBC news outlet reported Monday, citing a diplomatic source knowledgeable about the matter.Simona Halperin, who was designated in May 2023, will supposedly return to Israel to lead the Israeli Foreign Ministrys European Affairs Department.Israels embassy in Moscow has not yet formally commented onHalperins reported planned departure.
The Moscow Times has actually reached out for comment.In January 2024, Halperin was summoned to Russias Foreign Ministry after criticizing Moscows position on the October 7 Hamas attacks during an interview with the Kommersant company newspaper.In the interview, she condemned Russia for refusing to designate Hamas as a terrorist company, implicating authorities in Moscow of accepting and rolling out the red carpet for the militant group.Russias Foreign Ministry at the time called her remarks an incredibly regrettable start to a diplomatic mission.Still, in the exact same interview, Halperin likewise kept in mind Israeli-Russian cooperation in protecting the release of hostages held by Hamas.Before her publishing in Moscow, Halperin headed the Israeli Foreign Ministrys Eurasia and Western Balkans Department.
She formerly functioned as ambassador to Singapore and East Timor, and led the Israeli Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan.Halperin was born in Riga in theLatvian Soviet Socialist Republic.
She matured in Leningrad, lateremigrating to Israel in 1976 under the countrys repatriation program.