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Israel's UK ambassador tipped for UN post

June 24, 2010 13:27
240610 PROSOR

By

Anshel Pfeffer,

Anshel Pfeffer

1 min read

Israel's ambassador to London, Ron Prosor, is being considered for the post of temporary ambassador to the United Nations.

The UN post is considered one of the key diplomatic jobs. Often the position goes to a political appointee rather than a career diplomat. The current ambassador, Prof Gavriella Shalev, was appointed by former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. The government is determined to replace her by the time her two-year term ends in August.

Benjamin Netanyahu, himself a former ambassador to the UN in the 1980s, and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman have so far failed to agree on a candidate, although the post was offered to Prof Alan Dershowitz, who turned the job down because it entailed taking Israeli citizenship.

As a result of their inability to fill the post and the urgency - the General Assembly begins its meetings in September - Mr Prosor is seen as the ideal compromise candidate.