Simon Walters
Biography
Mr Simon Walters was appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the State of Israel in July 2023.
Previously, Simon was Director National Security for Middle East and Africa at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) from 2019 to 2022. He has also served as Policy and Requirements Director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) from 2017 to 2019, and Regional Lead for South-Eastern Europe in Istanbul from 2016 to 2017.
Simon served as Her Majesty’s Consul in Jerusalem from 2008 to 2011 and, prior to that, had postings in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen. He has done full-time language training in Hebrew (2022 to 2023) and Arabic (1998 to 1999).
He has a BA from Oxford University in Politics, Philosophy and Economics.
Before joining the FCO, he worked as a full-time volunteer at a hostel for homeless men in Liverpool, and later as a researcher and speech writer for an MP.
British Ambassador to Israel
The Ambassador represents His Majesty The King and the UK government in the country to which they are appointed. They are responsible for the direction and work of the embassy and its consulates, including political work, trade and investment, press and cultural relations, and visa and consular services.