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Mark Sofer

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Mark Sofer
Sofer (left) with Indian Vice President, Mohammad Hamid Ansari, in 2008
Born
Mark Hochhauser

1954 (age 69–70)
London, England
NationalityIsraeli
Alma materLondon School of Economics
Hebrew University
OccupationDiplomat
TitleIsraeli Ambassador to Australia
Term2017–
Parent(s)Victor Hochhauser
Lilian Hochhauser (née Shields)
RelativesDaniel Hochhauser (brother)

Mark Sofer (born 1954) is an Israeli diplomat.

Early life and education

Sofer was born in London in 1954, the son of Victor Hochhauser and Lilian Hochhauser (née Shields).[1][2] He holds a B.Sc. in economics and international relations from the London School of Economics, and an MA in international relations from the Hebrew University.

Career

In 1981 Sofer joined the Israeli Foreign Ministry. He has held diplomatic positions in Peru, Norway, and New York City. He served as ambassador to Ireland from 1999-2002. He was policy adviser to Foreign Minister Shimon Peres in the early 1990s.[3]

In 2008 Sofer became the Israeli ambassador to India[4] and concurrently, Non-Resident Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.[5]

Following his tenure in India, in 2017 Sofer took up the top diplomatic role in Australia.

Ambassadorial tenure in India

Under Sofer's tenure as ambassador of India, the ties between India and Israel improved further. According to BS Brar, professor of political theory and international relations at Punjab University, Chandigarh, "With regard to foreign relations, our approach was rather ideological a few decades ago, so we kept a distance from countries like Israel. But gradually, India's approach is getting more pragmatic in nature, and so we have opened up to Israel, and that's a good sign."[6]

Sofer is credited with pioneering efforts to reach out Muslims in India. On September 3, 2008, he offered a chaddar at the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddhin Chisthi at Ajmer. The visit of the ambassador was the first visit by any official of Israel to dargah in history. Talking to media persons, he said that only Sufism can help to solve problems and which can help us to grow together. "Judaism and Islam are basically sister religions and both teach us love and peace. The sufi is found in both religions and even the kabbalah system is found in Judaism," he said.[7] He also referred to some Muslim countries, which have recognised Israel and have established diplomatic relations with Jerusalem.[8]

As regards to Israel entering into diplomatic ties with Pakistan, Sofer said that 'the day Pakistan says it wants closer relations with Israel we will be ready to respond. Our close relationship with India is a fact and it is on the table. We will not compromise this relationship for anyone else. These relations are not aimed against any third country.'[8]

References

  1. ^ W. Rubinstein; Michael A. Jolles (27 January 2011). The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 431. ISBN 978-0-230-30466-6.
  2. ^ Hallé, Charlotte (19 December 2003). "Anglo Joins Top Ranks of Foreign Ministry". Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  3. ^ "EU Middle East Policy- Mark Sofer". Archived from the original on 21 June 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  4. ^ "Jeremy Issacharoff and Mark Sofer go from being best friends at Hasmonean to diplomatic ambassadors for Israel". Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  5. ^ "Mark Sofer, Ambassador to Australia". Embassy of Israel in Australia. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Indo-Israel ties: The bond grows stronger with time, Divya A". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  7. ^ "Sufism is the only tool to retain peace in world: Israel ambassador". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 November 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  8. ^ a b "No ill will against Pakistan, says Israeli diplomat". The News.
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