New head with Moroccan roots appointed to lead Israeli liaison office in Morocco

The Israeli liaison office in Morocco has a new head. «Without any public announcement, politician Yossi Ben David, of Moroccan Jewish origin, has taken charge of Israel's diplomatic representation in Rabat», reports Africa Intelligence. «He succeeds diplomat David Govrin, who quickly left with his team following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023», the source notes.

Ben David, a 55-year-old member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, has a background in Tiberias (northern Israel), where he served as deputy mayor from 1998 to 2003 and later as mayor from 2013 to 2018, according to Africa Intelligence.

Before his appointment in Morocco, Ben David worked as a consultant to the board of directors of the state lottery company, Mifal HaPais. From 2009 to 2013, he was CEO of a subsidiary of Ofek Aerial Photography, Israel’s national leader in aerial and satellite mapping, and earlier served as CEO of Etgar Human Resources, specializing in HR in Israel.

Yossi Ben David is the fourth head of the Israeli liaison office since diplomatic relations between Rabat and Tel Aviv resumed on December 10, 2020. His deputy is Hassan Kaabia, an Israeli of Palestinian origin.