Britain posts new envoy to Israel

Veteran British diplomat David Quarrey plunged into work at his country’s embassy in Tel Aviv Monday, replacing Matthew Gould as ambassador to Israel.

Quarrey, who has worked in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for two decades, previously served as the prime minister’s private secretary and was director for foreign policy at the National Security Secretariat. He has also served overseas at the UK Mission to the United Nations in New York, in India and in Zimbabwe.

“It is a great privilege to be the new British Ambassador to Israel. Israel is a fantastic posting. I look forward to getting to know all of Israel’s communities,” Quarrey wrote in a statement.

“I want to deepen the partnership between our two countries, in particular strengthening our ties in the fields of trade, investment, science, technology and cooperation against shared security threats, and work for progress toward peace,” he added.

Gould, the first Jew to occupy the post, served in the position since 2010, will take up his new position as director of cyber-security at the UK’s Cabinet Office. He was outspoken in his opposition to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which protested Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians, and was active in promoting business and science ties between the countries.

Gould was previously posted in Iran for two years, and fostered connections to the Jewish community there.

Lazar Berman contributed to this report.