U.S.–Israeli and U.S.–Palestinian Relations: Crossroads for Stability and Peace

Mr. Christopher Henzel: Director, Office of Israeli and Palestinian Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Christopher Henzel is director of the office of Israel and Palestinian affairs at the State Department. He is a member of the senior Foreign Service. From 2011 to 2013, he headed the office of Regional and Multilateral Affairs in the Department’s Near East bureau, responsible for economic and security assistance budgets, and for the Sinai observer force. From 2010 to 2011, Henzel led the provincial reconstruction team in Mosul, Iraq, and from 2007 to 2010 he was deputy chief of mission and chargé at the American embassy in Manama, Bahrain. From 2004 to 2007 he was counselor for political affairs in Amman, Jordan. He has also been posted in Yemen, Pakistan, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. In other Washington assignments he has served as economic officer for North Africa, and as desk officer for Iran. Henzel is a graduate of the National War College and of the College of the Holy Cross, and studied Arabic at the Foreign Service Institute field school in Tunisia. He has received several State Department Superior Honor Awards, as well as the U.S. Army’s Superior Civilian Service Award.