France ambassadorial post among key diplomat roles left empty

Talya Lador-Fresher, the former ambassador to Austria, began a temporary posting as charge d’affaires in France on Monday.

JANUARY 13, 2020 16:41

Aliza Ben-Nun (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons) — Aliza Ben-Nun

(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Another key ambassador’s seat was left empty when ambassador to France Aliza Ben-Nun’s tenure in the post was not extended at the end of 2019.

In addition to France, there currently are no Israeli ambassadors to Russia, Canada or Egypt.

Ben-Nun’s time in Paris was supposed to end during the summer but was extended until the end of December.

Rather than keeping her in her post further, as the government did with Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer and Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon, she was sent back to Israel.

Talya Lador-Fresher, the former ambassador to Austria, began a temporary posting as charge d’affaires in France on Monday.

Mon premier jour à l’ambassade d‘Israel à Paris. Hâte de rencontrer l’équipe légendaire de @IsraelenFrance. pic.twitter.com/EAg4titXfH
— Talya Lador (@TalyaLador) January 13, 2020

Canada and Egypt will soon get their own charges d’affaires to fill in for the absence of an ambassador, Marc Attali and Eyal Sela.

Foreign Ministry sources told Yediot Aharonot Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to keep attractive diplomatic postings open so that he can make political appointments or appoint professional diplomats he views as allies.

Netanyahu asked Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit last year whether he can appoint new ambassadors during an interim government. He has yet to receive an answer.

Ben-Nun is believed to be close to former foreign minister Avigdor Liberman, who is currently at political loggerheads with Netanyahu. Ben-Nun served as the head of Liberman’s diplomatic staff.

Ben-Nun finished her four and a half years as ambassador to France “on positive terms and with many achievements,” the Foreign Ministry said. Lador-Fresher was sent to Paris “in light of the importance of relations with France... with a goal to maintain a high level of activity,” it said.