Zvi Mazel

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Zvi Mazel (b. March 4, 1939) is an Israeli diplomat. He was the Israeli ambassador to Sweden. He had previously served at the Israeli embassies in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Paris, and Cairo. He was also the Israeli ambassador to both Romania and Egypt, before becoming ambassador to Sweden in 2002.

He made news a few times. Once, when he stated that the Swedish Archbishop K. G. Hammar "probably is an anti-semite", and when he stated that Swedish foreign minister Anna Lindh's criticism of Israel's alleged human rights violations could not be tolerated.

Internationally, he is probably best known for vandalizing the artwork Snow White and The Madness of Truth in January 2004. The piece consisted of a boat floating in a rectangular basin filled with red water, signifying blood. The boat contained a card with a portrait of Palestinian suicide bomber Hanadi Jaradat on one side and the word "Snövit" ("Snow White" in Swedish) written on the other. The artwork was part of the exhibition Making Differences. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon later thanked Mazel and announced his support for Mazel's actions. [1]

A few days after the attack Mazel claimed that "Sweden is one of the most severe Anti-Semitic places" and "There are daily agitations in Swedish media to kill Jews." [2]

In a TV interview on February 22, 2004 Mazel called former foreign minister Sten Andersson and Sweden's UN ambassador Pierre Schori "professional anti-Israelis." [3]

Mazel retired when he turned 65 on March 4, 2004.