Appointment of the First Arabic Spokesperson for the Israeli Army.. “Captain Ella” Officially Takes Over

Captain Ella Wawiya has officially begun her new role as the spokesperson for the Israeli army in Arabic, succeeding the previous spokesperson Avichai Adraee, who held the position for nearly two decades. The announcement was made during an official ceremony held at the army spokesperson unit's headquarters in Tel Aviv, attended by military and media leaders.

Military Promotion Concurrent with Taking Office

The handover ceremony witnessed Wawiya, 36 years old, being promoted to the rank of Colonel, reflecting her rising role within the military institution. Wawiya is known in the media as “Captain Ella,” having gained prominence in recent years for her military media work directed at the Arabic-speaking public.

Military and Media Career

Wawiya was born in the town of Qalansuwa and joined military service in 2013, becoming the first female recruit from the Triangle area to join the Israeli army. She worked in the “New Media” digital media department within the army spokesperson unit, where she participated in managing media content directed at social media and digital platforms.

During her military career, Wawiya received a Distinguished Service Medal after completing the officers' course, in recognition of her professional performance.

New Role for Adraee After Leaving the Position

For his part, the former spokesperson Avichai Adraee will continue his work within the Israeli army spokesperson unit, where he will take on advisory roles to support the Arabic language department and Middle Eastern affairs, whether in normal circumstances or during crises and emergencies.

Implications of the Appointment on Military Media Discourse

Observers believe that the appointment of a new spokesperson in Arabic comes as part of developing military media communication tools with the Arab public, especially in light of the growing importance of digital media and its influence on shaping regional public opinion.