Over a long diplomatic career, Reuven Merhav has represented Israel in Africa, East Asia and the Middle East. As consul general in Hong Kong, he promoted relations between Israel and China; later, as director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was involved in initiating Operation Solomon in Ethiopia.

 

Merhav remained active in the absorption of Ethiopian immigrants as director general of the Ministry of Absorption. He is an authority on international and Middle Eastern affairs and serves on the board of several academic and planning bodies. A graduate of the Hebrew University, Merhav is a research fellow at the JIIS.