ISRAEL-is
Our Story
ISRAEL-is was established in 2017 by three IDF officers whose post-army travels exposed them to the rampant negative views about Israel. Realizing the profound impact that sharing personal stories can have on shifting perspectives and strengthening connections, they were inspired to take action and found ISRAEL-is. Initially, the organization focused on equipping thousands of young Israelis before their big trips abroad, but as ISRAEL-is grew, it expanded its activities both in Israel and around the world.
ISRAEL-is Today
Today, ISRAEL-is leads the way in people-to-people (P2P) advocacy, uniquely tackling the challenge of improving Israel’s global image. Through direct connections, advocacy training, and cutting-edge technologies like VR and AI, we have empowered over 130,000 young ambassadors. The events of October 7th have only heightened the urgency of our mission, reinforcing our dedication to fostering meaningful global conversations and combating antisemitism and misinformation with personal, nuanced perspectives.
Mission
We believe people connect with people before they connect with ideas. That’s why the authentic, personal story of each young Israeli is the key to building connections and improving Israel’s image worldwide. ISRAEL-is brings together a vibrant community of participants, alumni and partners who are committed to this vision and actively make it a reality.
Our Team
Yotam Ivry
CEO
Ben Engel-Kecan
COO
Yael Egozi Abudy
CFO & HQ
Dina Lache Iacov
VP Development
Barak Deri
Senior Advisor
Omer Zimmerman
Global Division Manager
Michal Amar
Local Division Manager
Aviv Kurnas
North America Regional Director
Shiran Zrihen
Director of Innovation, Evaluation and Measurement
Mor Izrael
Director of the October 7th Education Center
Shir Argaman
Alumni Division Manager
Roman Usim
PR Manager
Merav Barel
Social Media Manager
Yaheli Rosenfeld
Global Engagement Programs Manager
Yifat Van Leewen
Global Leadership Programs Manager
Elan Turitz
Educational Content and Training manager
Zvi Moshe
Finance Manager
Yarden Sharabi
IDF Coordinator
Ayala Ben Noach
Mentor of Influencer Academy
Want to join our team?
Board Members
Our Partners
