From the outside, the Canadian Embassy in Israel looks like a typical commercial building on a narrow street in a section of east Tel Aviv.
At 3 Nirim St., an address the embassy shares, you can also find a Georgian restaurant as well as several other small eateries. Across the street is a shop called Banana, which appears to sell swimwear and footwear, and one of the embassy’s neighbours just down the street is a car repair shop.
It’s not particularly glamorous, but that’s about to change.
The Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) confirmed last week that it “is looking to replace [the current embassy] with a more suitable, modern building consistent with our current standards.”
The embassy in Tel Aviv’s Yad Eliyahu district has been located in a leased space in a multi-tenant office building since 1996. Before that, it was located in a residential neighbourhood, at Hayarkon and Jabotinsky streets, only minutes from the beach.
The ambassador’s official residence is in Herzliya Pituach, an upscale community north of Tel Aviv.
The federal government is looking to acquire a 26,000-square foot facility that will double as an embassy and the ambassador’s residence.
“No decisions have yet been taken with respect to site selection, design, scope or cost,” DFATD stated in response to CJN queries.
DFATD officials did not respond to a CJN question about whether the government considered moving the new embassy to Jerusalem, which Israel designates as its capital but whose status isn’t recognized as such by most countries, including Canada.
“Canada values its strong relationship with Israel and will ensure its diplomatic presence is reflective of this relationship,” said DFATD spokesperson Bianca Healy.
“[The 2012 federal budget] committed the government to replace certain diplomatic properties with more appropriately located properties,” she added.
The embassy currently employs 62 staff in all, 47 locals and 15 who it describes as “Canada-based.”
“The new embassy will provide better access to services for Canadians in the country, as well as Israeli visitors, and will support Canada’s trade agenda in this dynamic country,” DFATD stated.
Canada and Israel entered a free trade agreement in January 1997 and since then, merchandise trade has more than doubled. According to DFATD data, it exceeded $1.4 billion in 2013.
In January 2014, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Israel and announced the two countries would take steps to modernize and expand the Canada Israel Free Trade Agreement.
Vivian Bercovici currently serves as Canadian ambassador to Israel. A Toronto lawyer, she was appointed to the position by then-foreign affairs minister John Baird in January 2014.
