Ishmael Khaldi

Bio

Ishmael Khaldi is Israel’s first Bedouin diplomat. Born into a traditional Bedouin family in a poor Bedouin village in northern Israel, Ishmael’s road has not been an easy one, from his early days as a sheepherder to earning 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 chosen to join the Foreign Ministry in October 2004, becoming Israel’s first Bedouin diplomat. In 2010, his autobiography  A Shepherd's Journey was published, telling Ishmael Khaldi's unique story of transformation from his modest village roots to his triumph as Israel's first bedouin diplomat and a voice of reason in the Middle East.

Topics

• JNF Action Areas

• Middle Eastern Relations

• Positively Israel & College Campuses