German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to be honoured by the Board of Deputies at its annual dinner later this year in recognition of her support for Jewish communities in Germany.

The Board hopes to present an award in person to Mrs Merkel at the event, which will be held in the Egyptian room of the Mansion House in the City of London in November.

Home Secretary Teresa May has been confirmed as guest speaker.

“She is the first Home Secretary to address the Board’s dinner,” said Board treasurer Judge Laurence Brass. “This is a major coup as she lies at the centre of Westminster politics and is tipped by many as a future party leader.”

Also lined up to speak is the next Lord Mayor of the City of London, Fiona Woolf, who will be installed in office a few days before the dinner.

Meanwhile, one of the leading American diplomats involved in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process over the years, Ambassador Dennis Ross will be guest speaker at the forthcoming UJIA dinner in London.

Middle East envoy for President Bill Clinton, he continued to advise President Obama on events in the region from 2009 to 2011. His current roles include co-chairman of the Jerusalem-based think tank, the Jewish People Policy Institute.