Israeli lawyer and strategic consultant Pninat Yanay has arrived in Athens to assume her duties as Israel's new ambassador to Greece.
Yanay was appointed to the diplomatic post by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. Her appointment comes as Israel seeks to reinforce its strategic partnership with Greece across defense, energy, tourism, investment, innovation, culture, academic cooperation, and people-to-people relations.
She succeeds Noam Katz, whose diplomatic tenure as ambassador in Athens was widely recognized as successful.
Appointment and diplomatic goals
Upon her arrival in the Greek capital, Yanay said she was excited to take up her duties in a country with which Israel shares a deep friendship. She expressed respect and admiration for Greek history, culture, and society, describing Greece as a key partner for Israel in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Yanay stated that she looks forward to working closely with Greek partners to strengthen bilateral relations in all sectors. She noted that her diplomatic mission provides an opportunity to engage directly with the public, highlight the human ties connecting the two nations, and combat false information about Israel while presenting the country's positive side.
Legal career and pro bono work
Before entering diplomacy, Yanay built a career as a lawyer and strategic adviser in Israel. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Bar-Ilan University, a public research university near Tel Aviv, and completed postgraduate studies in public and international law through Tel Aviv University in collaboration with Northwestern University in Chicago.
As a legal practitioner, Yanay specialized in complex criminal litigation, with a focus on financial crime cases, and represented clients in courts across Israel. She also established a pro bono legal aid department within her law firm to provide representation for individuals lacking access to legal services and for women who have suffered sexual abuse.
Defense sector advising and consulting
Between 2012 and 2020, Yanay represented leading Israeli defense and security companies, as well as firms operating in cybersecurity, internal security, and energy, particularly across Africa. During this period, she built relationships with foreign presidents, government ministers, and senior officials to promote Israeli economic, defense, and technological interests.
She later founded a strategic consulting firm. The business provided advisory services to major Israeli corporations on crisis management, regulatory frameworks, business development, government relations, strategic communication, and high-level negotiations.
Media commentary and public diplomacy
Yanay is a recognized public figure in Israel, frequently appearing on television as a political, defense, and legal analyst. She created and hosted the television program The Main Issue with Adv. Pninat Yanay, while also writing columns and hosting a podcast for the Israeli daily newspaper Maariv.
Following the attacks of October 7, 2023, Yanay founded LOVE ISRAEL, a digital information and public diplomacy platform. The initiative provides real-time information and survivor testimonies to international diplomats, officials, and journalists to build international support for Israel.
Charitable activities in West Africa
In addition to her legal and media work, Yanay established the non-governmental organization Children of Israel for the Children of Africa. The charity raised funds to build housing for orphanages in West Africa and created educational programs offering emotional support and skill development for local children.
