Eliyahu Eilat
Encyclopedia
Eliahu Elath born Epstein (1903-1990) was an Israel
i diplomat and Orientalist
. He immigrated from Russia
to Palestine in 1924, and spent a decade in Beirut as a student and journalist. From 1934 to 1945 he worked in the foreign relations section of the Jewish Agency, which eventually evolved into the government of Israel. That same year he came to the United States
as the agency's representative in Washington, D.C.
, and from 1948 to 1950 he served as the first Israeli ambassador to the United States. Following that appointment he served as the Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom
from 1950 to 1959, and later as the president of Hebrew University from 1962 to 1968.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i diplomat and Orientalist
Oriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
. He immigrated from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
to Palestine in 1924, and spent a decade in Beirut as a student and journalist. From 1934 to 1945 he worked in the foreign relations section of the Jewish Agency, which eventually evolved into the government of Israel. That same year he came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as the agency's representative in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and from 1948 to 1950 he served as the first Israeli ambassador to the United States. Following that appointment he served as the Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
from 1950 to 1959, and later as the president of Hebrew University from 1962 to 1968.