Draft:Joshua Laurent Zarka

Joshua Laurent Zarka
Joshua Laurent Zarka (born 1964) is an Israeli diplomat knows for his extensive diplomatic service, his contributions to counter-terrorism, and his role in fostering Israel's relations with various nations, including the United States, Russia, and China. He is currently serving as the Deputy Director General for Strategic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, and has been appointed to be Israel's ambassador to France.. .

Early Life and Education
Joshua Laurent Zarka was born in 1964 in Paris, France. He immigrated to Israel in 1975 and pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History from the Hebrew University and a Master's degree in Political Science from the University of Haifa. Zarka is also a graduate of the Israeli National Defense College.

Early Career
Zarka started his career as an economist at the Israeli Ministry of Finance before starting his diplomatic career.

Diplomatic Service
His diplomatic service includes roles such as:
 * Deputy Director General for Strategic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel (July 2018 - Present).
 * Director of the North American Bureau (August 2015 - July 2018).
 * Minister at the Embassy of Israel to the US (August 2011 - August 2015).
 * Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister to Bahrain (March 2009 - August 2011).
 * Deputy Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Israel to the Conference on Disarmament (August 2002 - August 2006).
 * Deputy Director in the Coordination Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, promoting Israeli relationships in the Gulf countries (August 1998 - August 2002).

Contributions to Counter-Terrorism
Zarka has contributed to the security of Israel and the world, through his involvement with the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT), where he has hosted and participated in several panels. .

International Engagements
Zarka has participated in high-level exchanges with multiple countries, emphasizing arms control and non-proliferation:
 * In Russia, he was involved in consultations on security matters with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov.
 * In China, he co-held a consultation on arms control and nonproliferation with Director-General Fu Cong of the Foreign Ministry's Department of Arms Control.
 * As a key Israeli representative, Zarka hosted the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) outreach visit in Israel in November 2019, focusing on the export controls for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies

Expertise on Iranian Nuclear Issues
As an expert on Iranian nuclear issues, Zarka has been integral in representing Israel's stance during critical nuclear talks. His efforts in Vienna in 2022 and insights shared in a "Le Monde" interview in 2021 highlight his deep understanding and strategic approach to the complexities of Iran's nuclear program and the geopolitical dynamics of the region

Recognition and Commendations
In 2015, U.S. Representative Mark Meadows formally recognized Joshua Zarka's work as the Minister for Congressional Affairs at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Personal Life
Fluent in Hebrew, English, and French, Zarka is a father to four children.