Taipei, June 29 (CNA) Israeli diplomat Israel Strulov has officially assumed office as his country's top envoy to Taiwan, the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei (ISECO) announced Monday.

Strulov, a father of two, joined Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2002 and served as director of the Israeli Foreign Ministry's Africa Division from May 2025 until his current posting, said ISECO, which represents Israeli interests in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

His previous overseas postings included several assignments in Japan, where he served as deputy head of mission at the Embassy of Israel from 2019 to 2024, as well as postings in Nigeria and Georgia, ISECO said in a press release.

Strulov replaces Maya Yaron, who headed ISECO from 2023 until earlier this month. Before her departure, Yaron was awarded Taiwan's Friendship Medal of Diplomacy in recognition of her contributions to strengthening ties between Taiwan and Israel.