Czech diplomat killed in Jerusalem day after state event

The Czech embassy in Israel announced this morning (Friday) the death of Klara Schneiderova, a 30-year-old Czech diplomat who served as head of the Czech consulate in Jerusalem. Schneiderova was struck yesterday in a serious traffic accident on Agrippas Street, near the Machane Yehuda market, and her death was pronounced at Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

According to the initial report, the driver of a minibus apparently lost control of his vehicle, mounted the pavement, struck Schneiderova and then crashed into a shop. Security cameras on the street recorded the moment of impact. Israel Police arrested the driver and transferred him for questioning.

MDA crews who arrived at the scene provided Schneiderova with initial medical treatment and evacuated her to Shaare Zedek in critical condition, suffering from multi-system trauma. MDA paramedics Meir Gershoni, Yaakov Roitman and Chaki Har-Kesef reported: "This was a very serious traffic accident. We arrived at the scene and saw the minibus on the pavement at the entrance to a shop. The woman was lying nearby, unconscious, without a pulse and not breathing."

The teams performed advanced resuscitation procedures and stopped bleeding while loading her into an intensive-care ambulance and evacuating her urgently to the hospital trauma room.

A circle closed, then cut short

Schneiderova had arrived in Israel about a month ago. Her father served as Czech ambassador to Israel in the late 1990s, and she had been here as a child and fell in love with the country. The evening before the accident, she was introduced to guests at a ceremony marking Czech National Day at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, where she spoke of coming full circle: her arrival to serve in the place where her father had served as ambassador.

Czech ambassador to Israel Veronika Kuchynkova Smigolova confirmed the death in a social-media post. She eulogised Schneiderova and described her as a wise, warm and friendly woman and an exceptional diplomat. The embassy statement expressed "deep sorrow" at the loss of "a colleague and friend", and said Schneiderova had been "an excellent, warm and outstanding diplomat". Condolences were sent to her family and relatives, and her coffin will be flown to the Czech Republic for burial.

The Czech Foreign Ministry announced that as a sign of mourning and respect, a black flag will fly over the ministry building, Czernin Palace in Prague, on Friday and Saturday. Ministry spokesman Adam Chorgo said: "We received with deep sorrow the news of the tragic death of our excellent colleague and diplomat in Jerusalem. At this difficult moment, our thoughts are first and foremost with her family and relatives."

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who met Schneiderova at the diplomatic reception the day before her death, eulogised her: "We received with deep sorrow the terrible news of the tragic passing of Klara Schneiderova. We express our sincere condolences to her family, her loved ones and the entire Czech diplomatic community. Klara was a senior and dedicated diplomat and a true friend of Israel."

Sa'ar visited the Czech Republic in May this year as part of an effort to upgrade relations with one of Israel's closest friends in Europe. The warm relations between the two countries are reflected in the Czech position supporting Israel in international forums.