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Israeli envoy to France threatens to quit over incoming Netanyahu government

“I’m not sure that I can represent the new government,” said Ambassador Yael German.

Israeli Ambassador to France Yael German. Source: Twitter.
Israeli Ambassador to France Yael German. Source: Twitter.

Israeli Ambassador to France Yael German broke civil service rules by threatening to quit her post for partisan political reasons, but the foreign ministry has declined to take action.

Previous ambassadors appointed by former and incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refrained from expressing their political views against the previous government led first by Naftali Bennett and now by caretaker and outgoing Premier Yair Lapid, a report in Israel Hayom noted.

German said in an interview last week with i24NEWS: “I’m not sure that I can represent the new government, so if I can’t represent it, I will resign. I’m waiting, I’ll see what kind of government we have and what we do...and then I’ll make my decision.”

German previously served as health minister and before that as mayor of Herzliya. She was appointed in Aug. 2021 by then-Foreign Minister Lapid to serve as Israel’s top envoy in Paris.

Israel’s Civil Service Regulations require that all diplomats refrain from publicly assuming political positions or making personal political statements of any kind.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the advocacy agent of the Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA, said that it was “left with a deep sense of sadness.”
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