[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 7, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE SERVICE OF ISRAEL'S CONSUL GENERAL TO THE PACIFIC 
                        NORTHWEST SHLOMI KOFMAN

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. RO KHANNA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 7, 2022

  Mr. KHANNA. Madam Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Israel's 
Consul General to the Pacific Northwest Shlomi Kofman on the conclusion 
of his term of service, and his return on August 1, 2022, to Israel for 
his next assignment.
  Consul General Kofman is the diplomatic representative of the State 
of Israel to the states of California (Northern region), Oregon, 
Washington, Alaska, Idaho and Montana.
  During his tenure, he actively promoted friendly relationships with 
government representatives from this region, including Members of 
Congress, and he has never hesitated to reach out to me to address 
questions for my constituents or serve as a resource on issues related 
to Israel and the Israeli community in my district.
  Shlomi Kofman began his appointment as Israel's Consul General to the 
Pacific Northwest in August 2017.
  He most recently served as a Policy Advisor to the Deputy Foreign 
Ministers based in Jerusalem, Israel.
  Over the course of his 24-year diplomatic career, Kofman has served 
as Israel's Deputy Consul General in New York City, Chief of Staff to 
Ambassadors in Washington D.C., Deputy Ambassador in Thailand and 
Deputy Consul General in Shanghai.
  His past domestic Foreign Ministry positions include Director of 
North American Economic Affairs, Policy Advisor to the Deputy Foreign 
Minister, Diplomatic Advisor & Director of the International Department 
in the Parliament and Ministry of National Infrastructure, and the Head 
of the Northeast Asia sector.
  Prior to joining the Foreign Ministry, Kofman worked in the High-Tech 
Industry, representing the Israeli company Orbot in South Korea, as 
well as a consultant to a leading Israeli company, ECI.
  Kofman holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations & East 
Asian studies from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a master's 
degree from Webster University--Shanghai University of Finance & 
Economics. He also holds an Associate's engineering degree.
  Shlomi was born in Tbilisi, the capitol of the Soviet Republic of 
Georgia and made Aliya (immigrated) to Israel at the age of nine, after 
being refused for three years by Russian authorities.
  During his tenure as Consul General serving in the Pacific Northwest, 
Shlomi Kofman has broadened the relationship between Israel and the 
states under his jurisdiction.
  His advocacy and leadership led to a first-of-its-kind economic 
analysis that quantified the deeply interconnected California-Israel 
relationship, which amounts to billions of dollars in business activity 
and trade, and hundreds of thousands of Israelis living and working in 
California.
  In a time where we witness increases in antisemitism, Holocaust 
denial, and violence against Jews, he has prioritized Holocaust 
education and policies to combat antisemitism and anti-Israel 
sentiment.
  He has been a strong advocate for expanding cooperation between 
governments and businesses in the areas of agriculture, energy, 
innovation, water management, and emergency services mutual aid.
  In 2020, during the height of the wildfire catastrophe in California, 
Israel, for the first time ever, sent a delegation of firefighters to 
assist in fighting the fires. This was not only a gesture of solidarity 
and friendship but also a reaffirmation of values that both the United 
States and Israel share-which is to stand together with allies in times 
of need.
  In that spirit, he convened high-level summits with policymakers to 
promote the sharing of COVID-19 strategies.
  He has strengthened Israel's connections with businesses, local 
communities, universities, and other academic institutions here in the 
United States.
  Shlomi Kofman worked to increase the number of delegations of 
Americans visiting Israel to further study firsthand that country as 
well as organize diverse international delegations to visit the United 
States.
  These important exchanges focused on expanding understand of diverse 
communities throughout the world, including people of color, women in 
leadership, the LGBTQ+ community, labor leaders, and citizen activists 
from Arab countries.
  In addition, I personally have benefitted from my meetings with 
Consul General Kofman, where we shared honest conversations about the 
issues of the day. We discussed the common ties of entrepreneurship 
between Silicon Valley and Israel, and how such cooperation can benefit 
other regions of the world. I hope to continue that dialogue with his 
successor.
  As Shlomi Kofman concludes his tenure in San Francisco, I am grateful 
that he built a legacy of friendship, cooperation, and a strong 
willingness to work with people from all backgrounds and perspectives.
  The United States has greatly benefitted from the services of Consul 
General Shlomi Kofman.

                          ____________________