When she arrived in Israel in November 2019, Thai Ambassador Pannabha Chandraramya thought that she would remain for two to three years, which is the average length of stay for a Thai ambassador. But she did not know then about the challenges that lay ahead or how would affect her life. Most of the Thai workers and students were in the south of the country.
Thirty-nine were killed on October 7, 23 were wounded, and 31 were kidnapped. Families of Thai citizens in Israel were worried about their safety and wanted them to come home. The Thai government hired planes, and Chandraramya and her staff processed all their fellow countrymen who wanted to leave.
She also went to the airport to wave goodbye to passengers on 35 repatriation flights. Throughout the whole period she has been involved in meetings with Israeli officials and with colleagues from other embassies in efforts to secure the release of the hostages – not just Thais but all hostages. Though most of the Thai hostages have been released, six are still in captivity.
This week Chandraramya was honored by the Ambassadors’ Club of Israel, which named her 2024 Diplomat of the Year at its annual ceremony, held at TEO Art and Culture Center in Herzliya Pituah. Other recipients of awards were honorary consul of Georgia Meni Benish, who was named the Honorary Consul of the Year; and Yitzhak Bejerano, the chairman and CEO of Readymix Industries Israel, who was named Israel International Businessman of the Year. The occasion .
