Ammon News - While Hebrew media outlets reported that the Israeli government had approved the appointment of Yonatan Zedka as its new ambassador to Jordan, political and strategic analyst Ayman Hunaiti revealed details about Zedka's identity and professional background.

It is worth noting that Jordan asked Israel not to allow its ambassador to return to Amman in November 2023 and recalled its ambassador from Israel following the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.

According to Hunaiti, Yonatan Zedka, Israel's newly appointed ambassador to Jordan, is a veteran diplomat born in Jerusalem in 1974. He joined the Israeli Foreign Ministry in 2002 and currently serves as head of its Middle East Department.

Professional and educational background

Education: Zedka holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations and Political Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. He is also a certified strategic and organizational consultant.

Previous Positions: Before joining the Foreign Ministry, he worked as an analyst at the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

He subsequently held diplomatic positions at Israeli missions in Bucharest, Romania; Tokyo, Japan; and Canberra, Australia.

Between 2014 and 2017, he served as director of the Department of Political Planning and Evaluation at the Foreign Ministry.

In the summer of 2017, he was appointed Deputy Head of Mission, with the rank of Minister-Counsellor, at the Israeli Embassy in Beijing, China. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he served as Israel's Consul General in Bengaluru, India.

Current Position: Zedka currently serves as head of the Middle East Department at Israel's Foreign Ministry, a position he held prior to his appointment as ambassador to Jordan.

Appointment as Ambassador to Jordan

Hunaiti said Zedka's appointment as Israel's ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was approved under Israeli government Resolution No. 4467, dated October 6, 2026.

The decision was part of a broader package of diplomatic appointments that included ambassadors to other countries, such as Canada, Austria, Denmark, Bulgaria, and Switzerland.

Prior to government approval, the Committee for the Appointment of Heads of Diplomatic Missions Abroad, chaired by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, selected Zedka for the position on September 18, 2026.

According to reports, the post had been vacant or occupied by another ambassador, Rogel Rahman, since September 2023, amid complicated circumstances.

Jordanian-Israeli relations
Zedka 's appointment comes at an extremely sensitive time in relations between the two countries.

Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza, the Jordanian government has repeatedly stated that "there is no Israeli diplomat in Jordan."

Jordan also recalled its ambassador from Israel and informed Israeli authorities that it would not allow the Israeli ambassador to return to Amman, linking the resumption of diplomatic representation to an end to the war and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

In this context, Hunaiti believes Zedka's appointment is viewed as a potential Israeli move to reactivate the diplomatic channel with Amman, particularly given his position as head of the Middle East Department at the Foreign Ministry, which provides him with in-depth knowledge of Jordanian affairs and bilateral relations.

Nevertheless, significant challenges remain. Amman has made clear that the Israeli ambassador's return is conditional on resolving several important issues between the two countries, particularly water-related matters and repeated Israeli violations of the peace treaty, including incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Jordan is also awaiting a change of government in Israel following repeated crises caused by successive Netanyahu governments.

Hunaiti said that despite Zedka's extensive experience and the Israeli government's approval of his appointment, his actual assumption of duties as ambassador in Jordan will depend on developments in bilateral relations and the Jordanian government's position on restoring Israeli diplomatic representation.

Legal Status: Caretaker government and possible ministerial changes

Hunaiti added that ambassadorial appointments in Israel go through several stages, beginning with the appointments committee and followed by government approval, after which the appointment becomes legally effective.

He said a potential change of government in Israel is highly likely to affect the new ambassador's appointment if Gadi Eisenkot succeeds in forming a government.

This is particularly significant because the appointment was made during the final days of Netanyahu's government by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, placing it in a politically and legally uncertain position.

He noted that there is no confirmed name for who will serve as Israel's next foreign minister, although speculation suggests that Yair Lapid could take over the portfolio, while Netanyahu has reportedly been offered the foreign affairs or defense portfolio in an emergency unity government.

Since the new ambassador's appointment was formally completed with Netanyahu's government approval before the new government takes its oath of office, legally reversing it could prove difficult.

As a result, Zedka is likely to remain in his position, but he may have to work with a new foreign minister, and possibly a new government, whose priorities may differ from his own, potentially affecting his effectiveness as ambassador to Jordan.

Hunaiti concluded by raising a question: To whom will the newly appointed ambassador, Zedka, owe his allegiance in his new mission in Jordan – Eisenkot in a new government or Netanyahu in a caretaker government?