UK appoints new Israel envoy

The United Kingdom appointed a new ambassador to Israel on Tuesday, announcing that veteran diplomat David Quarrey will replace current envoy Matthew Gould.

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.

Quarrey will assume his post in July 2015.

“I am delighted to be appointed as British Ambassador to Israel,” Quarrey said in a statement released by the Foreign Office. “It is a great privilege to have this opportunity to deepen our already thriving economic, science and technology ties with Israel, cooperate against shared security threats and work for progress towards peace.”

Gould, the first Jew to occupy the post, has served in Israel since 2010. He was outspoken in expressing the UK’s opposition to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, and was active in promoting business and science ties between the countries.

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