Nitzan Chen Steps Down as Head of Israel’s Government Press Office After 13.5 Years
By The Media Line Staff
Government Press Office Director Nitzan Chen announced on Thursday that he is leaving his post, ending a 13.5-year tenure that spanned some of the most turbulent periods in Israel’s recent history, including the current war.
In a statement released to journalists, Chen said he was “setting out on a new path” after more than a decade at the helm of the office responsible for coordinating relations between the Israeli government and the domestic and foreign press.
“During my years of service here at the GPO, we have gone through many events together—from presidential and papal visits to international conferences, various military operations, and, of course, the recent war, which was both complex and challenging from media, cognitive, and public diplomacy perspectives,” Chen wrote.
He described his role as a privilege and said he had sought to facilitate “as much as possible, the free coverage of events in Israel,” stressing that freedom of the press and freedom of expression are “vital and significant values in a democratic state.”
Chen said the GPO staff would continue its work until a new director is appointed and expressed confidence that cooperation with the foreign press would continue.
He ended his message with a personal note, offering a prayer for the return of Ran Gvili, whom he described as the last remaining hostage, from Hamas captivity.
Hebrew-language media reported on Thursday that Chen is expected to take up a new position as head of the Public Relations, Marketing, and Information Department of the Jerusalem Municipality, following his selection by the city’s appointments committee. He is set to replace Dr. Israel Tal Saranga, who has served in the role for several years.
Chen’s departure comes after a period in which he remained highly visible in Israel’s public diplomacy efforts. He was repeatedly quoted in both Israeli and international media in connection with the government’s handling of foreign press access during the war and in the context of major media initiatives, including international journalist visits and conferences in Jerusalem.
In November 2025, for example, Chen spoke publicly about the importance of bringing foreign journalists to Israel to see events firsthand, arguing that direct exposure was essential in an era of disinformation and polarized coverage. He was also cited in reporting on the GPO’s role in managing press credentials and security coordination for visiting media amid ongoing fighting.
Born in Jerusalem in 1963, Chen is a veteran Israeli journalist and media executive. He served in the IDF Artillery Corps before studying political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and later earning a law degree from Ono Academic College.
He began his journalism career in the early 1990s, working as a reporter and editor for Israel Radio and Channel 1 and later serving in senior editorial and management positions, including as news director of Israel Television and as chairman of the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council.
Chen was appointed director of the Government Press Office, which operates under the Prime Minister’s Office, in September 2012. During his tenure, he oversaw Israel’s media relations through multiple military operations, frequent diplomatic crises, and, most recently, the war that began in October 2023. The Prime Minister’s Office has not yet announced who will replace him.
The GPO is responsible for issuing press credentials, coordinating official government interactions with journalists, and facilitating coverage of state visits and major events.
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