Ali Yahya
Encyclopedia
Ali Yahya is an Israeli Arab diplomat. He became the first Israel
i ambassador of Arab
descent in 1995 when he was appointed ambassador to Finland
, a post in which he served until 1999. In 2006 Yahya was appointed Israeli ambassador to Greece
.
. He completed his BA degree in history and Arabic literature
at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
in 1970. Yahya is married and has five children.
and the Peace Process.
In 1972-1995, Yahya was director-general and taught Arabic language and Arab culture at the Adiva Language Institute (Ulpan Akiva) language seminary in Netanya
. He was a lecturer at the Tel Aviv University
, the Israeli Senior Police College, and the Israel Foreign Ministry Cadet Training Program.
In 1995, Yahya became a member of the Board of Directors of the Israel Broadcasting Authority
(IBA), where he was in charge of Arabic and radio programs. That year he also joined the Lapid
Movement for Learning the Lessons of the Holocaust. Later in 1995 he was appointed the Israeli ambassador to Finland
. He served until 1999.
In 1999, he served as Coordinator and Advisor for Special Projects (P.T.P.), at the Department for the Middle East Peace Process and was the direct responsible for the Aqaba Eilat peace talks.
In 2000, he became Chairman of the Board of The Arab Institute, at Central Galilee College; Chairman of the Board at The Abraham Fund dedicated to advancing coexistence, equality and cooperation between Israel's Jewish and Arab citizens; Member of the Board of Trustees at The Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace and Member of the Board of Trustees at The Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel.
In 2006, Yahya was appointed the Israeli ambassador to Greece
.
On a visit to Singapore
in 2006, Yahya called for direct ties between Israel and Indonesia. In an interview to Jakarta post he said,
Yahya was the first Israeli–Arab to light the ceremonial torch at the Israeli Independence Day celebration, and was the delegate of the Israeli – Arab Community at the Nobel Prize
Ceremony in 1995.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i ambassador of Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
descent in 1995 when he was appointed ambassador to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, a post in which he served until 1999. In 2006 Yahya was appointed Israeli ambassador to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Biography
Yahya was born in 1947 and raised in NazarethNazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
. He completed his BA degree in history and Arabic literature
Arabic literature
Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and implies politeness, culture and enrichment....
at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
in 1970. Yahya is married and has five children.
Diplomatic and media career
Prior to becoming an ambassador, Yahya was the coordinator of the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s Special Projects Division for the Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and the Peace Process.
In 1972-1995, Yahya was director-general and taught Arabic language and Arab culture at the Adiva Language Institute (Ulpan Akiva) language seminary in Netanya
Netanya
Netanya is a city in the Northern Centre District of Israel, and is the capital of the surrounding Sharon plain. It is located north of Tel Aviv, and south of Haifa between the 'Poleg' stream and Wingate Institute in the south and the 'Avichail' stream in the north.Its of beaches have made the...
. He was a lecturer at the Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
, the Israeli Senior Police College, and the Israel Foreign Ministry Cadet Training Program.
In 1995, Yahya became a member of the Board of Directors of the Israel Broadcasting Authority
Israel Broadcasting Authority
Israel Broadcasting Authority is Israel's state broadcasting network.It grew out of the radio station Kol Yisrael, which made its first broadcast as an independent station on . The name of the organisation operating Kol Yisrael was changed to Israel Broadcasting Service in 1951...
(IBA), where he was in charge of Arabic and radio programs. That year he also joined the Lapid
Lapid
Lapid is an Israeli communal settlement bordering on the West Bank but within the Green Line. Located near Modi'in, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hevel Modi'in Regional Council. In 2007 it had a population of 2,300....
Movement for Learning the Lessons of the Holocaust. Later in 1995 he was appointed the Israeli ambassador to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. He served until 1999.
In 1999, he served as Coordinator and Advisor for Special Projects (P.T.P.), at the Department for the Middle East Peace Process and was the direct responsible for the Aqaba Eilat peace talks.
In 2000, he became Chairman of the Board of The Arab Institute, at Central Galilee College; Chairman of the Board at The Abraham Fund dedicated to advancing coexistence, equality and cooperation between Israel's Jewish and Arab citizens; Member of the Board of Trustees at The Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace and Member of the Board of Trustees at The Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel.
In 2006, Yahya was appointed the Israeli ambassador to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
On a visit to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in 2006, Yahya called for direct ties between Israel and Indonesia. In an interview to Jakarta post he said,
I misunderstand why the relationship between the majorities of Muslims in Asia is hostile to Israel. If it is because of Israel and Palestine, then (how can it be reconciled that) we have peace with Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, but not with eastern Asia?
We protect the holy places in Israel, respect the Arabic language, and bring imams and rabbis together to have discussions. I am posing a question if the Muslim countries in Asia can open the gate to their country for us, so that we can open up relations with them.
There are so many opportunities in Israel and by stressing the need for cooperation we would like to get these countries to also have a share of these opportunities. But to do that, we need to have the opportunity to talk directly to these countries, which I hope, will come up soon.
Yahya was the first Israeli–Arab to light the ceremonial torch at the Israeli Independence Day celebration, and was the delegate of the Israeli – Arab Community at the Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
Ceremony in 1995.
Awards
Yahya has received a number of awards in recognition for his work.- KnessetKnessetThe Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
Speaker’s Prize (1983) for quality of the environment. - In 1986, was representative of Ulpan Akiva, recipient if the Israel PrizeIsrael PrizeThe Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is largely regarded as the state's highest honor. It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the...
. - HistadrutHistadrutHaHistadrut HaKlalit shel HaOvdim B'Eretz Yisrael , known as the Histadrut, is Israel's organization of trade unions. Established in December 1920 during the British Mandate for Palestine, it became one of the most powerful institutions of the State of Israel.-History:The Histadrut was founded in...
(Israeli Labor Union) Prize for Coexistence (1993). - In 1994, he received recognition from the U.S. Senate for “Promotion of Peace through Language and Culture.”