Jon Hanssen-Bauer
Ambassador
Ambassador on Twitter
Serving as Ambassador of Norway to Israel is a privilege and a unique opportunity to live in a society and among people who are close to my heart.
Norway and Israel have enjoyed diplomatic relations for more than 65 years. Our relations were established a year after Norway in 1949 formally recognized Israel and contributed to the majority vote necessary in the Security Council for admitting Israel as a full member of the UN.
The Embassy is a bridge between Norway and Israel in all fields of society. We strive to inform and to be informed, to connect people, institutions, businesses and artists, and to build friendship between our two countries. As the Ambassador, I am honored to lead a very competent and service-oriented team at the Embassy.
Norway is deeply committed to continue its efforts to assist the Israelis and the Palestinians in achieving a negotiated agreement that fulfils the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. Norway chairs the Donor Coordination Group (the AHLC), where both Parties participate actively. The Embassy takes part in Norway’s dialogue with Israel on maintaining the viability of the two-state solution and preparing for a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Israel has been central to my work for half of my working life. I bring a diverse background to this job.
My path to the Middle East started at the research foundation Fafo, just as the Oslo Channel produced the Oslo Accords. I had the privilege of designing and directing the People-to-People Program agreed upon under the Oslo II-accords. I was a consultant to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the peace process and refugees, and I directed many of Fafo’s research projects in the Middle East, on Palestine refugees and on living conditions in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Since I joined the Norwegian Foreign Services, I have served as Norway’s special representative to the peace process in Sri Lanka from 2006. From 2009 to 2015, I was Norway’s special representative to the Middle East, and travelled frequently to Israel.
My academic background is from Social Anthropology and Latin America. In 1984, I joined research on the newly opened offshore oil and gas installations in Norway on topics like organization, security, and management of offshore design projects. This brought me to a program to improve competitiveness in Norwegian work life by developing participatory work organizations (1988-93).
It is with great pride and humbleness I serve as the Norwegian Ambassador to Israel.
