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Akiva Tor

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His Excellency
Akiva Tor
עקיבא תור‎
14th Israeli Ambassador to the Republic of Korea
In office
2020–2024
PresidentIsaac Herzog
Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu
PrecedingRafael Harpaz
Preceded byChaim Choshen
Personal details
Born (1960-12-17) 17 December 1960 (age 64)
Fort Jackson, South Carolina
Alma materHebrew University of Jerusalem Columbia University
OccupationDiplomat

Akiva Tor (Hebrew: עקיבא תור) (born: December 17, 1960) is an Israeli career diplomat. In his last position he served as Israel's Ambassador to the Republic of Korea.[1] Previously he served as Consul General in San Francisco and the Pacific Northwest.

Biography

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Tor was born on Fort Jackson, South Carolina on December 17, 1960. His father Rabbi Gerald Turk was the first Hillel Director at Kent State University after the May 1970 Kent State shootings. His mother, Dr. Phyllis Turk, was a cultural anthropologist and university instructor of Hebrew.

In 1985 Tor made aliyah to Israel, and was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces where he served as a paratrooper and infantry officer until 1987. He then served in the IDF reserves as an infantry captain until 2008.[2][3]

Education

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Tor was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He received Modern Orthodox Jewish education, and differed his college studies in order to study in an Israeli Yeshiva between 1979-1981.

Tor received his B.A. in analytical philosophy from Columbia University in 1985, then received his MA in Political Science and Contemporary Jewish Thought from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem,[4] and an Master's of Public Administration from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government in 2003 with the support of the Wexner Foundation. He was a Goldman Fellow at Tel Aviv University in 2020.[5]

Diplomatic Career and Postings

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Tor entered the Israel Foreign Ministry cadet course in November 1987 and began his diplomatic career as Director at the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei in 1996.[2] On return to Israel he served as Deputy Spokesman from 1998 to 2000 and Deputy Director of the Department for Palestinian Affairs from 2000 to 2002.[2]

From 2003 to 2006, he was the World Jewish Affairs Adviser to the President of Israel, Moshe Katsav.[6]

From 2008 to 2012, he served as the Israel Consul General in San Francisco and Pacific Northwest.[7]

From 2013 to 2020, he was the Head of Bureau for World Jewish Affairs and World Religions in Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[8][9]

In June 2020 Tor was named Israeli Ambassador to South Korea. He assumed post in November 2020, and held it until August 2024.[10][11][12]

Policy Positions and Initiatives

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Israel’s Relations with World Jewry

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Strengthening Ties with Liberal Jewry

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As Consul General in San Francisco, Tor  advocated for a wide tent, welcoming conversations with people critical of Israel but Jewishly engaged, while drawing the line at any active support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.[13][14][15] At the Berkeley University Student Senate divestment hearings in March 2010, Tor delivered the keynote address in defense of Israel and remained present in the hall with the Jewish and pro-Israel students throughout the entire two nights.[16][17]

Tor is an outspoken advocate for Israeli cooperation with global Jewry, including liberal streams like the Reform and Conservative movements in the United States of America. In 2015 he proposed creating a Jewish ‘Peace Corps’ as a platform for volunteering and interactions between young Jews from Israel and the Diaspora.[18]

Between 2016 – 2018, his bureau partnered with the Hebrew Union College Rabbinic Seminar in Israel, the Shalom Hartman Institute and others to bring young religious leaders to Israel and provide them with resources discussing Israel and Israeli society.[19][20]

Fighting anti-Semitism

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As Head of Bureau for World Jewish Affairs and World Religions Tor directed much of his team’s efforts to fighting anti-Semitism. During Tor’s tenure in office Israeli diplomacy, in cooperation with major American Jewish organizations, launched a concerted effort to achieve international recognition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism. At the end of 2018, 28 countries had adopted the definition, as well as the European Union. The effort to achieve adoption in OSCE was blocked by objections from the Russian Federation.[21]

In August 2021, during Tor’s term as Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, it became the first Asian nation to adopt the IHRA working definition of anti-Semitism.[22]

In 2015 and 2018 Tor’s bureau convened the two largest gatherings of the Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism. Both focused on the emergence of online antisemitism, calling for social media companies to adopt universal guidelines against hate speech. They also dealt with threats of antisemitism in the progressive camp in the United States and in Europe’s populist far right.[23][24]

Tor advocated against Israeli diplomatic engagement with European political parties of the far right, including the Austrian Freedom Party, due to their antisemitism and hostility to local Jewish communities. In 2017 he proposed a three-tiered policy of cordon sanitaire.[25][26] Despite opposition from some Israeli politicians and opinion makers,[27][28] this has remained the official policy of subsequent Israeli governments:[29] (1) A principled boycott of neo-Nazi or openly anti-Semitic parties; (2) Avoiding engagement with parties with Nazi roots and formulating policy in coordination with the local Jewish communities; (3) Formulating informed policies towards populist right-wing parties on a case by case basis.

Strengthening Israel-Korea Relations

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During Tor’s tenure in Seoul, Israel carried out the first-ever bilateral COVID-19 vaccine swap, transferring  over 750,000 Pfizer vaccines to Korea.[30] In 2022 the Israel-Korea Free Trade Agreement was signed, marking Israel’s first FTA in Asia and Korea’s first FTA in the Middle East.[31] In 2024 the Israel Education Research Center was inaugurated at Seoul National University.[32] Tor also hosted a weekly radio program Bible Study with Israel Ambassador.[33]

Technological and Economic Diplomacy

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In September 2022 the Israeli embassy in Seoul launched the first embassy metaverse in the world, allowing Israelis and Koreans to interact in virtual space.[34][35]

During Tor’s term as Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, the Israel Industrial Research and Development Fund (KORIL) was doubled in size to eight million dollars annually.[36] The Korea – Israel Technology Fund, which capitalized at 80 million dollars for joint technology investment and was announced shortly after he concluded his term.[37]

The October 7 Attack

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Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack against Israel, and Israel’s response, Tor headed the Israeli embassy in Seoul’s public diplomacy efforts, including a Concert of the Missing at Seoul National University,[38] and the Captives of Hope exhibition in Insa-dong.[39]

In one initiative, Tor and the Embassy produced a youtube video depicting a Hamas attack in the center of Seoul, which was removed after heavy criticism by the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[40]

Controversies

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Oct. 7th Hamas Attack on Seoul Video

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The Israel Embassy in Korea came under heavy criticism in the Korean press for the production of a youtube video depicting a Hamas attack in central Seoul which was understood as invoking public fear of a North Korean attack.[41] Tor apologized for harming the public calm and the embassy removed the video from all its media.[42]

Conflict with Korean progressive parties

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Following repeated anti-Israel signage outside the Israeli embassy, Tor wrote to the chairpersons of the Green, Labor and Justice parties asking them to refrain from using the term “From the river to the sea Palestine will be free” as this terminology inferred the destruction of the Israeli state. Tor’s letter was torn up on youtube by representatives of the receiving parties.[43]

Position against engagement with FPO, Austrian Freedom Party

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Tor’s position against dialogue with the Austrian Freedom Party was attacked by Member of Knesset Yehudah Glick and by Makor Rishon collumnist Ariel Kahana, who accused Tor of intransigence and harming Israel's diplomatic relations in placing unwarranted restrictions on Israel’s diplomatic engagement with an Austrian political party. The Israel Foreign Ministry however supported Tor's position.[28][29]

Defense of San Francisco Jewish Film Festival

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Tor’s support of the San Francisco Jewish Federation and its decision not to cancel funding to the SF Jewish Film Festival, was criticized by conservative members in the Jewish community, some of whom complained to Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Tor criticized the decision of the festival to invite Cindy Corrie as inappropriate, but claimed the festival was too important a vehicle of Jewish and Israeli culture in the Bay Area to be destroyed because of a mistake, even a significant one.[44]

Personal life

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Akiva Tor is married to Dr. Naomi Tor, a mediator and community social worker. They live in Beit Shemesh and have four children.

Select Writings and Publications

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References

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  1. ^ "Israeli ambassador reflects on 4 years of service in Korea, expresses optimism for peace in Middle East". The Korea Times. 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
  2. ^ a b c "Interview with H.E. Akiva Tor, Israeli Ambassador to the Republic of Korea". Asia Society. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  3. ^ Pine, Dan (2012-07-13). "Mission accomplished: After four years as Israeli consul general, Akiva Tor heads home". J. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  4. ^ "TOR". jejuforum.or.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  5. ^ "AitN: July 27, 2020". Columbia College Today. July 27, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  6. ^ "Does Israel need an entity for dialogue with the Diaspora?". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
  7. ^ "United States of America". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  8. ^ "Program and Participants". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  9. ^ ""A Perfect Storm": Conference Tackles New Forms of Antisemitism in Today's World". 25-june-2019.html. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  10. ^ "First Bedouin ambassador appointed; has called out Israeli racism in past". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  11. ^ "New Israeli ambassador talks trade, cultural exchanges and eating kosher in Korea". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  12. ^ "Israeli ambassador reflects on 4 years of service in Korea, expresses optimism for peace in Middle East". The Korea Times. 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
  13. ^ Pine, Dan (2012-07-13). "Mission accomplished: After four years as Israeli consul general, Akiva Tor heads home". J. Archived from the original on 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  14. ^ American Jewish Committee (2015-06-12). AJC Global Forum: BDS on the American Campus. Retrieved 2025-01-05 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ "Grant Guidelines". Bay Area Jewish Federation. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  16. ^ The Daily Californian (2010-04-15). Senate meeting to override veto ends without decision. Retrieved 2025-01-05 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ "ZEEK: Articles: BDS and Hopelessness: Response to Moshe Yaroni". zeek.forward.com. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  18. ^ Tor, Akiva. "The Blogs: Building a bridge over troubled waters". blogs.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  19. ^ "The Unity of the Jewish People: Invitation to a Conversation | The Times of Israel". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  20. ^ "In The Gates of Jerusalem" (PDF).
  21. ^ JTA. "In rare criticism, Israeli envoy raps Russia for blocking anti-Semitism definition". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  22. ^ Savage, Sean (2021-08-05). "South Korea endorses IHRA definition of anti-Semitism". JNS.org. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  23. ^ "The 6th Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism". www.gov.il. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  24. ^ "Joint Statement on Countering Online Hate Speech and Incitement to Violence".
  25. ^ "Tel Aviv University Symposium on Europe's Right Wing" (PDF).
  26. ^ IASEI (2017-11-11). Roundtable Discussion: European Right-Wing Populists and their views on Islam and Israel. Retrieved 2025-01-05 – via YouTube.
  27. ^ "The Knesset critiques MFA over Austrian leader's visit". www.makorrishon.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  28. ^ a b "Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee holds heated debate on policy of "non-engagement" with Freedom Party of Austria". www.knesset.gov.il. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  29. ^ a b "Israel to limit contact with Freedom Party-led ministries". www.israelnationalnews.com. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  30. ^ Staff, ToI. "After Palestinians reject deal, Israel to send 700,000 vaccines to South Korea". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  31. ^ "Israel-S Korea free trade pact comes into force December 1". Globes. 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  32. ^ Arin, Kim (2024-06-18). "Research center for Israel studies opens in Seoul". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  33. ^ 한국안의 이스라엘 Israel in Korea (2021-10-14). (2021년) 아키바토르 대사님, FEBC ‘Bible Study with the Israel Ambassador’ - Ep.1. Retrieved 2025-01-05 – via YouTube.
  34. ^ "Israel MFA initiates first diplomatic mission on Metaverse platform". www.gov.il. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  35. ^ "Israeli embassy opens in metaverse". The Korea Times. 2022-09-26. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  36. ^ KORIL. "KORIL :: KORIL History". www.koril.org (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2024-09-08. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  37. ^ "New $80 million Israel-Korea fund established for DeepTech investments". ctech. 2024-06-27. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  38. ^ "Concert in Seoul sends message of hope for hostages in Israel-Hamas conflict". The Korea Times. 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  39. ^ "Israeli embassy hosts exhibit dedicated to plight of hostages in Gaza". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 2024-06-26. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  40. ^ Israeli embassy removes video of imaginary ‘Hamas’ attack on Seoul | AJ #shorts. Retrieved 2025-01-05 – via www.youtube.com.
  41. ^ 이지은 (2024-01-19). "[단독] 이란과 대리전 "못 멈춰"…"서울 테러 영상은 실수"" (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2024-06-26. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  42. ^ "Israel embassy pulls 'inappropriate' video imagining Hamas attack on Seoul". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  43. ^ "Israeli Ambassador's Letter Torn on TikTok".
  44. ^ Staff, J. (2009-07-16). "Letters". J. Archived from the original on 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  45. ^ Eichner, Itamar (2024-06-12). "Israeli ambassador's popular Torah radio show in South Korea becomes a book". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
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