Melody Sucharewicz

Melody Sucharewicz
Sucharewicz in 2018
Born (1980-04-12) April 12, 1980 (age 44)
Munich, West Germany
Alma materTel Aviv University
Known forTelevision appearances

Dr. Melody Sucharewicz (born April 12, 1980) is the winner of the second and final season of Israel's popular TV show, The Ambassador,[1] and a former foreign affairs adviser and spokesperson of Israeli former alternate Prime Minister, Defense Minister and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.[2] Since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks in Israel in 2023, Sucharewicz has led a solidarity campaign for the families of Israeli hostages with German citizenship, supporting their efforts to mobilize the German public and political establishment to call for the release of their loved ones.

"The Ambassador" is a reality series similar in format to Donald Trump's The Apprentice, though its theme focuses on public diplomacy and political PR instead of business.[3] Elected among hundreds of candidates. The aim is to choose a spokesperson for Israel from among several thousands of young professionals. Rhetoric and diplomatic skills, social competence, coping with hostile media, and skills in creative political PR of 14 final candidates were tested throughout a series of international challenges (Uganda, Sweden, Russia, United States), later broadcast on Israel's Channel Two. The three finalists of the show held speeches on their vision of peace at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York.

Chosen as the winner in 2006 by a high-profile committee (IDF General Gil Regev, journalist Rina Mazliach, media anchor Nachman Shai), Sucharewicz traveled around the world as a goodwill ambassador for Israel for one year.[4] Her activities ranged from speaking engagements at the European Parliament[5] to media appearances, publications[6] and interviews[7] concerning Israel's perception in the media and the Middle East peace process.

Born in Munich, Germany in 1980, Sucharewicz immigrated to Israel at the age of 19, where she earned a B.A. in sociology and anthropology and an M.Sc. in management sciences[8] at Tel Aviv University. She holds a PhD in War Studies from King's College London, with her dissertation focusing on deradicalization processes of former Islamist extremists and terrorists.[9][needs update]

After finalizing her year as an international good will ambassador, she returned to Israel, where she worked as an international relations adviser for the Peres Center for Peace. She was also the director of the German Israel Congress, Europe's largest pro-Israel event with 3000 participants, aiming at strengthening bilateral ties between Israel and Germany. Sucharewicz continues to work as a representative for Israel, with most engagements taking place in Germany and Israel, where she works as a political communications and strategy consultant, moderates and speaks at high-profile conferences and events.[10]

Awards

In 2024, Dr. Sucharewicz received the prestigious Honorary Award by German NGO Elnet (European Leadership Network) for her tireless support of the Israeli hostages' families' awareness campaign in Germany since the October 7 attacks.[11] Among others, she established a hostage square in Berlin's historic Bebelplatz square with the "For Yarden" foundation.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ [1][permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ Hoffman, Gil (2019-07-30). "Reality show winner new spokeswoman for Gantz". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
  3. ^ "Reality TV works on Israel's image". 2004-11-23. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". www.theromanforum.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2019-07-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ [2][permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ "bitterlemons.org - The courts and the fence/wall". www.bitterlemons.org. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  7. ^ Ludwig, Kathrin (2007-01-07). "Israels schönste Botschafterin kommt aus Deutschland". Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  8. ^ "ספרים חדשים". www.biu.ac.il. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  9. ^ "Melody Sucharewicz - Research Portal, King's College, London". kclpure.kcl.ac.uk. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  10. ^ zdf.de Archived 2008-05-04 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "ELNET Awards verliehen - Fünf Menschen und Organisationen sind für ihre gesellschaftliches und politisches Engagement ausgezeichnet worden" (in German). 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  12. ^ "Bebelplatz soll »Platz der Geiseln« werden" (in German). 2024-05-12. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  13. ^ "New hostage square in Berlin to open, raise awareness for those in Hamas captivity". 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-10-22.