On May 26, Lieutenant General Mark C. Schwartz, U.S. security coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, addressed over 210 Israel bonds investors and members of Bonds leadership as part of Israel Bonds’ global event speaker series with leading dignitaries, officials and industry frontrunners. Leading up to his assignment to the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, Lt. Gen. Schwartz served as deputy commanding general, Joint Special Operations Command, in addition to other general officer assignments such as commander, Special Operations Command Europe; deputy commanding general for maneuver, 1^st Cavalry Division; and deputy commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force, Afghanistan. On the heels of Memorial Day, Bonds board member Bob Diener introduced Lt. Gen. Schwartz, praising him for his dedication and commitment to defending lives and protecting Israel’s borders.



Throughout his 24-year-long career as a Special Forces officer, Lt. Gen. Schwartz served in Special Operations developmental command and staff assignments across the world, including with NATO. Since accepting his new role in October 2019, Lt. Gen. Schwartz highlighted the most significant aspects of his position, including serving as the sole emissary of the USSC with the ability to interface with Palestinian leadership in light of suspended security agreements and diplomacy issues with Israel; executing the USSC’s mission to enhance security cooperation; lead coalition efforts in advising the Palestinian Authority on security sector reform; and recommending opportunities for nations and international organizations to contribute to the development of a self-sustaining Palestinian security sector. In referring to his role as “by far the most challenging and equally rewarding” opportunity he has yet to endure, when looking to the future, he underscores the importance of preventing terrorism to Israel through ongoing efforts to expand on intelligence sharing and uniting central commands to promulgate full transparency.

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