Barak, who has served as director general for nearly the last three years, will replace Miriam Ziv, who completed her term as ambassador to Ottawa.
By HERB KEINON
The Foreign Ministry's appointment's committee on Monday named ministry director-general Rafi Barak as Israel's next ambassador to Canada.Barak, who has served as director general for nearly the last three years, will replace Miriam Ziv, who completed her term as ambassador to Ottawa on Sunday.Prior to being appointed director-general, Barak served variously as the number two at Israel's embassy in Washington, the charge d'affaires at Israel's embassy in Paris, and as the ministry's deputy director-general in charge of the Western European department.Barak's appointment was the only one made by the appointment's committee, which has not met for months because of the ministry's work dispute. Representatives of the worker's committee raised the failure to fill key slots because of the dispute at the traditional Rosh Hashana toast held Monday at the ministry.Barak's appointment will now go the cabinet for final approval.Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who is also the foreign minister, is expected to name a replacement for Barak as director-general.