Ambassador of the State of Israel to Latvia 🇱🇻🇮🇱
Israel
Joined January 2016
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Sandra Simovich retweeted
Debora Cahn, the creator of Netflix's The Diplomat, just confirmed something viewers caught in episode six of the new season.
In the scene, the housekeeper at the US embassy in London talks about her father, who fought in World War II. She says that during the Allied advance through Belgium, a live grenade rolled to his feet, and a soldier named Hershel Polin from Richmond, Virginia, grabbed it and threw it. It exploded next to his hand. He lost the arm. He saved her father's life.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin was born in Berkeley and grew up in Richmond, Virginia, before his family moved to Israel. On October 7, 2023, he was at the Nova festival when Hamas attacked. He lost part of his arm to a grenade while sheltering with friends, was taken hostage into Gaza, and was murdered in captivity in August 2024. He was 23.
Cahn told Mako the reference was intentional. "Yes, it's true," she said. She said his mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, called it a tribute, and that she loves that word. In her words, it was just a small footnote so people remember everything they went through.
A show watched by millions put his name in a story where a man from Richmond gives up his arm to save someone else's life. That is who Hersh was. Did you catch it when you watched?
Reporting by Dudi Caspi, Los Angeles, for Mako (mako.co.il), published November 9, 2026.
Sandra Simovich retweeted
Grateful to @IsraelMFA for your heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Your support and principled condemnation of attacks against innocent civilians mean a lot to us. Standing together against terror. 🇺🇦🇮🇱
Deeply saddened by the horrific news from Komyshuvakha, Ukraine, where 40 people were killed in a Russian attack. Among the civilian sites struck was a school serving as a humanitarian aid distribution centre. Many people are still missing.
We condemn this attack and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed. We wish the wounded a swift and full recovery.
Sandra Simovich retweeted
Deeply saddened by the horrific news from Komyshuvakha, Ukraine, where 40 people were killed in a Russian attack. Among the civilian sites struck was a school serving as a humanitarian aid distribution centre. Many people are still missing.
We condemn this attack and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed. We wish the wounded a swift and full recovery.
Sandra Simovich retweeted
Today, we mark 31 years since the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
We remember his unwavering commitment to Israel’s security, his dedication to the State of Israel, and his determination to pursue peace against all odds.
His legacy reminds us of the importance of unity, democracy, and rejecting political violence.
🕯️ May his memory be a blessing.
יהי זכרו ברוך
Israeli missions abroad are voting today, 12 days before the elections will take place in #Israel.
The team at the embassy here in Riga already took it's part in the #democratic process 🇮🇱❤️
🇮🇱 Izraēlas diplomātisko misiju pārstāvji visā pasaulē šodien vēl Knesetu (parlamentu).
Izraēlas vēstniecības Latvijā diplomāti, viņu vidū arī vēstniece @SandraSimovich, jau nobalsojuši.
🗳️Izraēlā vēlēšanas notiks 27. oktobrī.
Sandra Simovich retweeted
She survived 11 months in Hamas captivity, tortured and starved, enduring the unimaginable - only to be brutally murdered in the end.
Eden Yerushalmi was supposed to celebrate her 27th birthday today.
Remember her 🕯️
Sandra Simovich retweeted
On October 7, 2023, Arik took his daughter Ruth to Nova to do what she loved most: dance.
Ruth had cerebral palsy and used a wheelchair. Her father made sure she never missed out on life.
When Hamas attacked, Arik never left her side.
They died in each other’s arms.
A father protecting his daughter until the very end. 🕯️
📹 @kann
#UNFORGO7TEN
Sandra Simovich retweeted
Never forget Noya Dan, 12.
She was autistic, loved Harry Potter and dreamed of helping kids with autism.
She was killed 3 years ago on October 7th 2023.
Her dream and legacy are now being honored through the creation of the Noya Dan Center for the Autistic Experience.💔🇮🇱
Sandra Simovich retweeted
⚠️ HORRIFIC CONTENT: The Palestinian Hamas terrorists from Gaza on October 7th made a 94-year-old Holocaust survivor grandma watch as they raped, then murdered, her granddaughter.
Sandra Simovich retweeted
Three years since the October 7 massacre, when Hamas-led terrorists killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Time does not diminish the crime or the responsibility of those who committed it.
I will never forget our #BalticMusketeers solidarity visit with @markomihkelson and @ZygisPavilionis shortly after the attacks. We stood at the Nova festival site and in Be’eri, where Hamas had murdered civilians. What we saw has stayed with me ever since.
Three years later, Iran-backed Hamas remains armed in Gaza, and the disarmament process has stalled. Promises cannot provide security. Hamas must disarm, and that disarmament must be verified. Neither Israelis nor Palestinians can build a secure future while a terrorist organisation retains the means to wage war.
I support Israel’s right to defend its people in accordance with international law. Europe must also act against terrorism and antisemitism at home. Jewish communities must be able to live openly and safely, without fear of threats or violence. We must never allow anyone to turn October 7 into a cause for celebration.
We honour the victims and stand with the survivors. Remembrance carries a responsibility: confront those who finance, arm and glorify terrorism, and ensure Hamas cannot repeat October 7.
Sandra Simovich retweeted
On 7 October 2023, Hamas terrorists murdered 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
Today, we remember the victims and stand with their families and the survivors.
Until Hamas terrorists lay down their arms, they will continue to pose a threat to Israel.
Sandra Simovich retweeted
50 years on, the words of my father, Chaim Herzog, then Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, ring as true today as they did then.
Those who claim the antisemitic lie that “Zionism is racism” deliberately endanger Jews and Israelis everywhere.
Zionism is the national liberation movement of the Jewish people and the foundation of our right to a state and a national home in the Land of Israel.
No motion, in any party or any parliament, will ever change these eternal truths.
Sandra Simovich retweeted
Warm congratulations to Prime Minister @AndrisKulbergs on the impressive electoral victory.
I wish success to the new Latvian government that will be formed, in strengthening the economy, security and resilience, for the benefit of the Latvian people.
I look forward to the continued strong cooperation between our countries
🇮🇱 🇱🇻
Today, a terrorist attack was foiled aboard a flight from Dubai to Israel carrying predominantly Israeli passengers.
According to the information currently available, the aircraft’s systems recorded a sequence of actions and flight data indicating deliberate sabotage of the aircraft’s systems, intended to cause the plane to crash. The incident bears disturbing similarities to the method used in the September 11 attacks, in which civilian aircraft were deliberately turned into weapons.
Thanks to the courage, determination and quick action of the Israeli passengers, the Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar and the two relief team pilots who took over, a potentially catastrophic terrorist attack was prevented and the lives of 180 people were saved.
The choice of this particular route has been intended to undermine the Abraham Accords and damage the relationship between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Targeting it was therefore not only an attempt to harm Israeli passengers, but also a symbolic attack on the ties between our countries. They will not succeed, our relations will stay as strong as ever.
Jihadists seek to harm Israeli civilians by every possible means, in the air and on the ground. They will not be allowed to win!
Sandra Simovich retweeted
Aviokompānijas “Flydubai” reisa FZ1073 180 pasažieri un apkalpes locekļi šodien tikai par mata tiesu izvairījās no traģēdijas, apkalpei un Izraēlas pasažieriem kopīgiem spēkiem novēršot plānotu teroraktu.
Sešus gadus pēc Ābrahāma vienošanos noslēgšanas uzbrukuma mērķis bija graut Izraēlas un Apvienoto Arābu Emirātu attiecības. Taču tā vietā notikušais apliecināja abu valstu pilsoņu savstarpējo solidaritāti.
Pateicoties Izraēlas pasažieru un Apvienoto Arābu Emirātu apkalpes locekļu ārkārtējai drosmei, lidmašīna pirms neilga brīža droši nolaidās Ben Guriona lidostā. – at Riga, Latvia
Israeli courage in action. 🇮🇱
Thanks to the extraordinary courage of Israeli passengers and the Emirati crew, the flight landed safely at Ben Gurion Airport .
🎥 @itsmezina__
Sandra Simovich retweeted
What a day. What a moment. What a beautiful reminder to choose life. The professionalism of flydubai, the heroism of the pilot, and the courage and spirit of the passengers on FZ1073 turned this fifth day of Sukkot into a day we will remember. God blessed us with peace. And tonight, flights from the UAE continue back and forth as normal to Israel. Life continues. Peace continues. Nothing will stop us from building, connecting, and believing in a better future.
God bless a nation that always finds a reason to smile, celebrate, and cherish life.
Sandra Simovich retweeted
We condemn recent Russian attacks on Kyiv by which a 14 years old Israeli citizen was killed last night, and 20 people - including the boy's mother were injured.
Our condolences to the family, and the families who lost their loved ones in recent attacks on Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine and wishing quick recovery to the wounded.
@andrii_sybiha
@MFA_Ukraine
Sandra Simovich retweeted
Šodien Izraēlas vēstniecība Latvijā un vēstniece @Sandrasimovich pievienojas LR @Lab_min sociālajai akcijai “Dažādo kurpju diena”, lai paustu atbalstu cilvēkiem ar funkcionāliem, tai skaitā garīga rakstura traucējumiem, un veicinātu iekļaujošāku un pieņemošāku sabiedrību.
Dažādas kurpes šodien ir simbolisks atgādinājums - mēģināt iejusties otra cilvēka vietā, saskatīt ne tikai atšķirīgo, bet arī to, kas mūs vieno, un turpināt ceļu kopā.
Iekāp otra kurpēs un ejam tālāk kopā! 👞👟
#IekāpOtraKurpēs #StepIntoSomeoneElsesShoes
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