Esther Herlitz

Esther Herlitz (; 9 October 1921 – 24 March 2016) was an Israeli diplomat and politician who served as a member of the Knesset for the Alignment between 1973 and 1977 and again from 1979 until 1981. She was also Israel's first female ambassador, having been appointed as the country's ambassador to Denmark in 1966.

Early life and education Born in Berlin, Germany in 1921, Herlitz emigrated with her family to Mandatory Palestine in 1933. Her father, historian George Herlitz, founded the Central Zionist Archives in Jerusalem. She attended high school in Jerusalem, first at the Gymnasia Rehavia, and later at the Hebrew University Secondary School. She also studied at a teachers seminary and the Foreign Service school.

Military career Herlitz joined the Haganah as a recruiter at the Sarafand Training Camp. She then was promoted to a rank of an officer in the British Army,

Herlitz was also a member of Tel Aviv City Council, and chaired its culture committee between 1960 and 1964. During her time as chairwoman, Herlitz helped establish Beit Ariela as well as development of literacy classes for immigrant and lower-income women. She returned to a position of a Foreign Minister in 1962, and after serving under Golda Meir, was appointed head of the Guest Department, responsibility of which include caring for visitors from abroad. Two years later, Herlitz became head of the Information Department working to establish positive image of Israel. She was the first woman to be elected as head of the ministry's staff committee, but resigned a year later to pursue political future by joining Mapai party to run for Knesset in 1965. However, her party suffered defeat during the 1965 Israeli legislative elections, and she returned to her ministry duties becoming the first woman after Golda Meir to be appointed as ambassador to Denmark at which post she served until 1971.