Israeli Ambassador S.E. Mordechai Rodgold in MCI-Livetalk about technologies, peace and cultural exchange.

Israel: Peace through technology
Israeli Ambassador S.E. Mordechai Rodgold in MCI-Livetalk about technologies, peace and cultural exchange.

With an impressive career that began more than 30 years ago in the Foreign Service, Mordechai Rodgold looks back on various stints as a diplomat in Morocco, Switzerland, Italy and now Austria. With a career break at a company involved in renewable energy, Rodgold is the ideal person to represent the new technology nation of Israel in Austria.

Peace through technology

"We had to act," Rodgold explains in an interview with MCI Rector Andreas Altmann. "We had no choice and had to fight challenges ourselves. We couldn't rely on others to solve our problems, such as water shortages or security," says the ambassador, explaining Isreal's technological upswing in recent years. Technological advances in cybersecurity and medical research have made the country one of the most sought-after hi-tech countries in the world.

Israel's technological expertise contributes significantly to an improved situation with neighboring Arab countries. Projects such as climate change, irrigation technologies or health care are tackled together and Israel shares its knowledge with the partner countries. This led significantly to an improved situation between the Arab countries and Israel.

Creativity as a pillar of society

In addition to technological progress, Rodgold explains that diversity and creativity shape Israeli society. Because of cultural diversity, discussions are the order of the day. However, through tolerance and respect, characteristics that underlie Israeli society, this can be resolved well, Rodgold says.

This attitude also influences Israel's dealings with the rest of the world. Exchanges between young people are particularly important here, Rodgold says. Israel offers many programs such as a work-and-holiday visa for young people so that they can gain insights into Israeli companies during the summer months.

Diplomatic relations

Israel maintains excellent contacts with the USA and Russia, and Europe is Israel's largest trading partner. 1/3 of its exports go to Europe. Here Rodgold emphasizes that the democratic values of European countries coincide with those of Israel, thus promoting economic exchange.

As an example of the excellent exchange between Israel and Austria, he cites the reason for his visit to Innsbruck: the 'Austrian Space Forum' in Innsbruck organized a four-week simulation of a human Mars mission in the Negev desert.

Rodgold hopes to welcome even more projects between Austria and Israel in the future and also to further promote exchanges between students from the two countries together with MCI | The Entrepreneurial School®. 

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S.E. Mordechai Rodgold

Education
1996: Master of Business Administration | Hebrew University, Jerusalem
1989: Bachelor of Business Administration and International Relations | Hebrew University, Jerusalem
Professional career:
11/2019: Ao. and bev. Ambassador of the State of Israel to Austria
Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, UNIDO, OSCE and other international organizations.
2011-2019: Director of the "Information and Visual Media Department" Public Diplomacy Division.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, Jerusalem
2011: Counsellor, European Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, Jerusalem
2009-2011: VP Business Development, Renewable Energy Company, Israel
2006-2008: Counsellor, Economic Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, Jerusalem
2002-2006: Head of Economic Division, Economic Advisor for Italy, Malta and Albania, Representative of Israel to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) Embassy of the State of Israel in Rome, Italy
2000-2002: Deputy Director, Economic Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, Jerusalem
1997-2000: Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the State of Israel in Bern, Switzerland
1995-1997: Deputy Chief of Mission, Israel Liaison Office, Rabat, Morocco
1993-1994: Second Secretary, European Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, Jerusalem
1991: Joined the Diplomatic Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, Jerusalem