Head of Czech Embassy’s Jerusalem office killed after being struck by minibus

Klára Schneiderová, 30, head of the Czech Embassy’s representative office in Jerusalem, was killed Thursday in a traffic accident on Agrippas Street, near the Mahane Yehuda market. The young diplomat was struck by a minibus whose driver reportedly lost control, causing the vehicle to mount the sidewalk and crash into a shop. Her death was confirmed Friday by the Czech Embassy in Israel.

According to preliminary findings from the investigation, the minibus suddenly left the road and struck the diplomat, who was on the sidewalk. Magen David Adom teams dispatched to the scene found her in critical condition, with no pulse and not breathing. After performing resuscitation, paramedics took her to Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The driver was detained for questioning, while police opened an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the accident.

In a statement published on X, the Czech Embassy expressed its profound sadness. “It is with immense sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of our colleague and friend Klára Schneiderová, head of our office in Jerusalem,” it said. The embassy paid tribute to a young woman who was “bright, warm and friendly, as well as an exceptional diplomat,” and offered its condolences to her family and loved ones.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar paid tribute to Schneiderová and offered condolences to her family and colleagues. Huckabee said he was “deeply saddened” by her death, while Sa’ar described her as “a dedicated senior diplomat and a true friend to Israel.”

The Czech Foreign Ministry announced that a black flag would be flown on Friday and Saturday over Černín Palace in Prague, where it is headquartered, in tribute to the young woman. Her remains are to be repatriated to the Czech Republic for burial.