The Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Haifa has begun his duties: Ukraine is strengthening its consular presence in northern Israel.

On January 26, 2026, in Jerusalem, at the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, an official ceremony was held for the appointment of the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Haifa. This position was taken by Alexander Zernopolsky — a well-known Israeli lawyer and long-time partner of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission.

The exequatur to the newly appointed consul was presented by the director of the protocol department of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gil Haskel. The document was signed by the President of the State of Israel Isaac Herzog, emphasizing the official and state level of the appointment.

On the Ukrainian side, the ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk. He personally congratulated Alexander Zernopolsky and presented him with a consular patent signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha.

Alexander Zernopolsky has been actively cooperating with the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Israel for many years, supporting the Ukrainian-Israeli community and participating in the development of bilateral relations. In the professional community, he is known as a lawyer with a high level of trust and reputation, and in the public sphere, as a consistent supporter of humanitarian and civil dialogue between the two countries.

The appointment of the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Haifa is seen as a practical step to strengthen Ukraine’s presence in northern Israel. It is not only about consular support for Ukrainian citizens but also about developing humanitarian, cultural, and business contacts in the Haifa region and Northern Israel.

After the ceremony, Alexander Zernopolsky announced that he had officially assumed his duties. He expressed gratitude to Ukraine for the trust placed in him and specifically noted the support from Ambassador Yevgen Korniychuk. According to him, the priority of his work will be to strengthen friendly relations between Ukraine and Israel, as well as to expand cooperation at the level of business, culture, and public initiatives.

This appointment comes amid a steady demand for closer and more structured ties between the two countries — from assisting citizens to joint projects and dialogue at the regional level. In this context, the role of the Honorary Consulate in Haifa acquires not a symbolic, but a quite practical significance for the bilateral agenda.

Such a personnel decision underscores the course towards institutional strengthening of Ukraine’s presence in Israel and reflects the logic of long-term partnership, which is increasingly discussed at diplomatic and public levels. It is in this context that the editorial logic of NANews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency operates, capturing events that shape the real architecture of relations between Ukraine and Israel.