The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv was opened in 1962, five years after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Israel. Its opening coincided with the opening of the Israeli Embassy in Manila that same year. In 2012, the Embassy's website was hacked by a hacker who identified himself as "RcP" amid increased tension between Israeli troops and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
In December 2017, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that the Philippines was one of at least ten countries reportedly looking to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, following the decision of the United States to do so earlier in the month. The Department of Foreign Affairs denied that such a move was being discussed, citing its support for a two-state solution as part of the wider Israeli–Palestinian peace process. DFA Undersecretary Ernesto Abella again denied in August 2018 that the Philippine government was considering moving the Embassy to Jerusalem when he mentioned that it was not a part of President Rodrigo Duterte's agenda for his then-upcoming state visit to Israel.
Staff and activities
The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv is headed by Ambassador Nathaniel G. Imperial, who was appointed to the position by President Benigno Aquino III on June 6, 2014. Prior to becoming Ambassador, Imperial, a career diplomat, had been posted to the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, at one point becoming the mission's chargé d'affaires. His appointment was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments on September 17, 2014, and he presented his credentials to Israeli PresidentReuven Rivlin on December 10, 2014. Imperial is set to be succeeded by Macairog S. Alberto, who was appointed by President Duterte on March 12, 2020, and who previously was Commanding General of the Philippine Army. The Embassy's activities center around providing to the welfare of Filipinos in Israel, many of whom are Overseas Filipino Workers. Following the death of a Filipino worker from a bomb explosion in Haifain 2001, the Embassy organized text brigades to quickly disseminate information to Filipinos throughout the country, while in 2005, Ambassador Antonio Modena protested the treatment of Filipinos entering or exiting Israel, many of whom were subjected to excess security screening or were segregated from other departing or arriving foreigners. In addition to catering to the welfare of Filipinos in Israel, the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv also provides assistance to nationals of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations which do not have a diplomatic presence in Israel, such as with the case of 12 Malaysians detained by Israeli authorities following the Gaza flotilla raid in 2010.
