Arthur Lenk

Former Israeli diplomat

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May 18, 2025, 4:34 PM

Eurovision’s foreign policy lessons for Israel

Top: Yuval Raphael from Israel performs the song 'New Day Will Rise' during the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, May 17, 2025. (Screenshot video courtesy of KAN/EBU). Below: US President Donald Trump, fifth left, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, fourth right, United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, second right, Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, left, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, third left, Kuwait's Crown Prince Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, second left, Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, right, during the GCC Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

If we don't start engaging constructively with President Trump and leaders around the world, we will indeed 'cry alone'

Mar 11, 2017, 2:23 PM

Israel’s baseball team is the story of our shared heritage

Israel has always been a project of partnership between those of us who live in Israel and the Jewish diaspora. We have never been simply a nation of our citizens or a collection of people that were born within...

Mar 14, 2014, 2:47 PM

The wages of diplomacy: Too low

The Foreign Ministry offices in Jerusalem (photo: PD care of WikiCommons)

Striking Israeli Foreign Ministry employees are not paid nearly enough to manage the unique demands of foreign posting

Dec 6, 2013, 12:05 PM

Finding my inner Mandela

On what his legacy means for the Jewish people going forward

Oct 17, 2013, 5:28 PM

A ceremony, a basket and creative diplomacy

Presenting credentials in Pretoria, and giving an unconventional gift signifying hope for a healthy diplomatic friendship

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About Me

Arthur Lenk is a retired diplomat who served as Israel’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan and then to South Africa, Lesotho and eSwatini (Swaziland). He was born in the US and made aliyah to Israel in 1983.

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