Israeli former Deputy Head of Mission to the UK dies suddenly at 62
Eitan Naeh went on to serve as Israel's ambassador to Turkey and then, in the wake of the Abraham Accords, Bahrain
An Israeli ambassador who formerly served as Deputy Head of Mission in the UK has passed away at the age of 62, with the Israeli embassy in the UK saying it was “deeply saddened” by his death.
Eitan Naeh, who served as Deputy Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires in the UK from 2013-2016 and went on to serve as Israel’s ambassador to Turkey and then Bahrain, died unexpectedly on Sunday night.
The Israeli embassy in the UK said it was “deeply saddened by the passing of Ambassador Eitan Na’eh. Eitan served with distinction as our Deputy Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires in London between 2013 and 2016, leaving a lasting impact on UK-Israel relations. His loss will be felt from Azerbaijan and Turkey to his historic missions in the UAE and Bahrain. Our hearts go out to his wife Cheryl and children, Maya and Itay. May his memory be a blessing.”
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs described how “beyond his exceptional diplomatic skills and his unique ability to build bridges and strengthen ties in every country in which he served, Eitan stood out for his deep dedication to the work of the foreign service and his unwavering commitment to the State of Israel.
“Eitan was a true team player in the fullest sense of the term—a man with a generous heart, who opened both his door and his heart to everyone, in every role he held, and to all who had the privilege of working with him. Eitan will be deeply missed by the Foreign Ministry family and by the State of Israel as a whole.”
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, who as Foreign Minister appointed Naeh to the role of Israel’s first ambassador to Bahrain, said: “I share in the sorrow and send my condolences and an embrace to the family of the ambassador, Eitan Na’eh, who passed away last night…Eitan served the State of Israel devotedly for over 35 years. May his memory be a blessing.”
Daniela Grudsky, Israel’s current Chargé d’Affairs in the UK, described Naeh as “a dear colleague and friend whose kindness, wisdom and dedication touched everyone who had the privilege of working with him.
“With over 35 years of service, including his time as Deputy Ambassador to the United Kingdom and as Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Turkey and Bahrain, Eitan embodied the very best of Israel’s diplomatic service.