Avi Pazner is World Chairman of Keren Hayesod.

A veteran diplomat, Avi Pazner was formerly Israel’s ambassador to France and, before that, to Italy, Malta and Albania.  Previous positions have included senior adviser to Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, and Counselor at the Israeli embassy in Washington.

In addition to his role at Keren Hayesod, Avi Pazner currently serves as an official spokesman for the Israeli government. 

Born in Danzig (Gdansk), he spent World War II in Switzerland, immigrating to Israel with his family at the age of 16.  He served in the Armored Corps of the IDF and is a graduate of the Hebrew University.  Ambassador Pazner has been a member of the Jewish Agency’s Board of Governors since June 1998.