Israel’s pick for Rome envoy withdraws candidacy

Israel’s pick for ambassador to Italy, Fiamma Nirenstein, has withdrawn her candidacy for the position, Haaretz reports.

Earlier this month, Haaretz had reported that Italy had called on Israel to reevaluate the appointment of Nirenstein.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi dispatched a “discreet” message to Netanyahu asking him to pick someone else besides the former Italian MP who immigrated to Israel ahead of her appointment last August. The paper cited an anonymous source saying the opposition to Nirenstein’s appointment stems from dissatisfaction with her among the Jewish community, the Italian Foreign Ministry and the armed forces. It noted that, in violation of diplomatic protocol, Nirenstein continued her journalistic activity in Italy while her appointment as ambassador to Rome was being confirmed.

Nirenstein was also called out by the daily several weeks ago for an article she wrote in 1996 that was fiercely critical of Sara Netanyahu.