israelinsider: diplomacy: Sallai Meridor leading candidate to become Israel's U.S. Ambassador

Sallai Meridor leading candidate to become Israel's Ambassador to the U.S.
By Ellis Shuman May 22, 2002


		05/22 PM wants Sallai Meridor in Washington Ha'aretz 05/22 After three quiet years in U.S., Ambassador Ivry speaks out JTA


			Ariel Sharon
			Shimon Peres


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Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres are meeting today to discuss the appointment of Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor as Israel's next ambassador to the United States. The high-level position in Washington has been vacant since David Ivry finished his two-a-half-year stint last month, and because Sharon and Peres could not agree on a replacement.

Meridor's candidacy came up after Peres rejected Dore Gold, Sharon's foreign policy adviser and former Israeli ambassador to the UN. Peres reportedly proposed that the position be offered to Danny Gillerman, head of Israel's Federation of Chambers of Commerce, but Sharon rejected the proposal. According to coalition agreements between the Likud and Labor parties, Sharon and Peres have to both agree on the important appointment.

According to media reports, Sharon also offered the position to Minister without portfolio Danny Naveh (Likud), but Naveh turned it down. Other candidates that are reportedly being considered include Ben Gurion University President Avishay Braverman, and Mossad Director Ephraim Halevy.

Sources in Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the government to appoint a professional diplomat, and not to fill the important Washington post with a political appointment, media sources reported. Senior Ministry Deputy Director Yoav Biran, who previously served as ambassador in London, yesterday submitted his candidacy for the position.

Meridor, brother of Minister without portfolio Dan Meridor (Center Party) is reportedly Sharon's preferred candidate, and sources close to Peres said the foreign minister might agree to Meridor's appointment and, in return, ask for authority to make an appointment to another senior diplomatic position, ynet reported. Ministry sources charged that Meridor would be a political appointment, while Biran is considered a professional, experienced diplomat.

While serving as Israel's ambassador, Ivry was frequently criticized by keeping a low level of public exposure at a time when Israel desperately needed to get its message out to the American public. At one point New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman rhetorically asked Sharon whether there was an Israeli ambassador in Washington. "Everyone liked Ivry," said one Jewish official, "but he wasn't visible," the JTA reported.