Pavan Kapoor is India's new ambassador to Israel

Pavan Kapoor, a 1990 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, was on Thursday named as India's new ambassador to Israel.

"Pavan Kapoor (lFS: 1990), presently high commissioner of India in Maputo, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Israel," the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

Kapoor will replace Jaideep Sarkar.

The appointment assumes significance as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit India this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to visit Israel following Netanyahu's visit.