Estonian ambassador: Israel far more complex than outsiders realize

Estonian Ambassador to Israel Atko Vosman, who has spent his first year in office getting acquainted with local society, says the Middle East is far more complex than outsiders might think. He admitted that even people who have lived there for many years often say they cannot call themselves experts on the region.

The primary task of a diplomat, he explained on Estonian radio's "Vikerhommik," is to understand what is happening in the host country and explain it to Tallinn, while also representing Estonia's positions to Israel. Although Israel has faced difficult years with the war in Gaza and strikes on Iran, Vosman does not believe his work is fundamentally different from usual diplomacy. Still, the war affects everyday life – during the conflict with Iran, much of normal social activity stopped and many meetings moved online. The ambassador stressed that neither he nor his family ever felt directly in danger.

Vosman conceded that it is frustrating for foreign diplomats to try to change reality in the host country. What impressed him most was Israel's multi-layered early warning system, which issues alerts precise enough for individual neighborhoods or blocks, with civilians following instructions in a highly disciplined manner. Estonia could learn a lot from this system, he said.

While Israeli society may appear united from the outside, Vosman noted that it is in fact home to a wide range of opinions. Upon his arrival, Tel Aviv saw daily demonstrations against both the war and the government. "At times, that black-and-white reflection of Israel is not what I see when I am there," he said. Regarding Gaza, he pointed out that many European countries, including Estonia, see the two-state solution as a prerequisite for lasting peace, yet support for the idea in Israel has waned significantly since Hamas's attacks in October 2023. He called it the only possible solution, though the road ahead remains long and no credible alternative has emerged.

Estonia's image in Israel is positive, Vosman said – the country is known as a digital nation, a NATO ally and a neighbor of Russia. He also emphasized the importance of remembering Estonia's Jewish cultural autonomy, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Estonia was the first country to grant such extensive autonomy to its Jewish community, a fact not widely known in Israel.

The ambassador wants to boost practical cooperation: more business, cultural and tourism ties, and bilateral trade could at least double. Estonia's main export to Israel is rapeseed oil, while imports include defense industry products. Vosman sees potential in IT, tourism and further defense cooperation. Israel is closely watching Europe's rising defense spending after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and is interested in lessons from the war, with Estonia seen as a key intermediary.