Portrait

Flotilla and Ben Gvir, this is Peled, the ambassador at the forefront of the clash between Italia and Israel

Ambassador to Italia since 2024, Peled was born in Jerusalem and grew up on a kibbutz in northern Israel. This year the diplomat has been summoned several times by the Farnesina to clarify his government's positions in the diplomatic disputes between Rome and Tel Aviv

by Pietro Menzani

21 May 2026

JONATHAN PELED, AMBASCIATORE DI ISRAELE IN ITALIA IMAGOECONOMICA

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Jonathan Peled, Israel's ambassador to Italia, was summoned again by the Farnesina. This time the pretext is a post published by Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of National Security in the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, on his social channels. The video is titled "This is how we welcome supporters of terrorism" and depicts the minister at the port of Ashdod mocking Global Sumud Flotilla activists, who are blindfolded and kneeling.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called the content of the film "absolutely unacceptable and against all elementary protection of human dignity" and announced that he had summoned Peled in agreement with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. But who is the Israeli ambassador and what role does he play in the diplomatic dispute between Rome and Tel Aviv?

The Career

Jonathan Peled arrived at the Israeli embassy in Italia in September 2024, taking over from his colleague Alon Bar, who had held the post for the previous two years. In the presentation message issued upon taking up the post, the diplomat recounts that he was born in Jerusalem and grew up in kibbutz Neot Mordechai, on the country's northern border, where he says he experienced "the constant danger and threat to security".

On the occasion of his inauguration, he explained that he had always admired Italia and was happy to have the opportunity to 'meet many of you with the aim of strengthening the friendship and cooperation between our two countries'.

In fact, according to the ambassador, 'we share many common values, a similar Mediterranean culture and mentality, and the same joie de vivre. Both countries share a wide scope for cooperation on a political, strategic, economic, cultural and academic level'.

Before arriving in Rome, Peled represented Israel as ambassador to El Salvador (between 2004 and 2006) and to Mexico (between 2015 and 2019). He was also acting ambassador to Australia. Since September 2021, he has been Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Head of the Latin America and Caribbean Division.

In addition, he held diplomatic posts in Turkey, Argentina, El Salvador and the United States, in Washington and Miami. Peled holds a degree in Political Science and Economics from Tel Aviv University and served as a crew officer in the Israeli Air Force between 1980 and 1986 with the rank of Major.

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Convocations at the Farnesina

This is not the first time Peled has been called back by Tajani for a confrontation in 2026. The first face-to-face this year was staged in January, when two Italian carabinieri on duty at the Consulate General in Jerusalem were stopped and threatened with an automatic weapon near Ramallah by an individual whom the Farnesina described as "traceable to the settlers' milieu".

Peled was again summoned in March in response to the denial of access to the Holy Sepulchre imposed by Israel on Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Father Francesco Ielpo, Custos of the Holy Land, on Palm Sunday.

The Israeli security forces had explained that the measure had been ordered for reasons of public safety, to protect the safety of the two clergymen from possible Iranian missile attacks. Following the diplomatic crisis that had arisen, Prime Minister Netanyahu had given instructions to guarantee the Cardinal access to the Holy Sepulchre.

The Israeli ambassador had espoused the government's line, reiterating that the ban had been made necessary because 'the safety of human lives comes before religious freedoms' and that the cardinal had been informed but had decided 'not to comply with our request'.

Only a few days later, on 8 April, the ambassador was again summoned to the Farnesina at Tajani's request to provide explanations on the incident that saw a convoy of Italian vehicles belonging to the UN mission Unifil being targeted by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). The Foreign Minister had justified the decision by stating that "Italian military personnel are not to be touched".

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Peled's positions

Despite more conciliatory tones and less heated language, the ambassador has often expressed positions on the Israeli foreign policy apparently in line with those of the Netanyahu government, reaffirming the country's right to self-defence and condemning Hamas' actions.

For example, Peled has shown opposition to events accused of glorifying the 7 October massacre. In October last year, the diplomat wrote on his X profile that he found it 'outrageous that in Italia there are events celebrating the 7 October massacre: rapes, mutilations, summary executions, people burned alive and kidnappings of innocent civilians committed by Hamas. Crimes against humanity that have no justification whatsoever'.

At the same time, he said he expected the Italian authorities to oppose 'firmly these initiatives. We trust that Italia will prevent demonstrations that glorify terrorism and betray the values of our democratic civilisation'.