UK among 7 Israeli embassies soon to have no envoy

Departure of key ambassadors including UK’s Daniel Taub and UN’s Ron Prosor is imminent, but Jerusalem has yet to name replacements

By ToI Staff 28 July 2015, 5:36 am

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Israel's Ambassador to the UK Daniel Taub addresses a Zionist Federation event in London, March 2013 (photo credit: Courtesy Zionist Federation)

With the end of Ambassador Daniel Taub’s term as Israel’s envoy to London this week, seven Israeli embassies worldwide will soon not have full-time ambassadors, Channel 2 reported Monday.

British-born and educated, Taub assumed office in 2011. His replacement has not yet been announced. Ahead of his departure, British Prime Minister David Cameron sent Taub a letter earlier this month thanking him for his work to strengthen UK-Israel ties.

Among the foreign posts without permanent envoys are Russia, Brazil, Slovakia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, soon to be joined by the UK and the United Nations in New York, where Ambassador Ron Prosor will be stepping down shortly. In none of the seven embassies has replacements been named.

The TV report noted that four of positions in question are political appointments which need to be filled by Israel’s foreign minister, a position which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu currently holds.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor. (courtesy)

While some of the ambassadors have agreed to stay on until their replacement is appointed, Jewish organizations abroad have criticized the diplomatic disorder, saying that at a time when Israeli diplomacy is so critical, Israel ought to have a more orderly changing of the guard, Channel 2 reported.