The Israeli government on Sunday appointed Tzachi Braverman, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief of staff, as the Jewish state’s next ambassador to the United Kingdom, replacing Tzipi Hotovely.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar submitted the appointment for government approval after Braverman’s candidacy received the green light from the Civil Service Commission’s Appointments Committee.
Braverman, a veteran lawyer and political aide, has been a close ally of Netanyahu for much of the past decade. Born in Tel Aviv in 1959, he studied law at Bar-Ilan University before entering public service.
Braverman first served as Cabinet secretary in Netanyahu’s government between 2016 and 2021. In April 2022, he returned to the premier’s inner circle as chief of staff, a position he retained after the Likud returned to power following the Nov. 1, 2022, general election.
Hotovely, who served as the Jewish state’s first female envoy to the United Kingdom, completed her five-year term in London Sept. 16.
“While my time here has sadly come to an end, I am proud to have stood up for Israel, and stood with British Jews through an exceptionally challenging period,” she said in a letter shared upon her departure.
“It is crucial that the British Government continues to recognise Israel’s right to defend itself, and that our two countries maintain their strong alliance in facing our shared existential global threats,” she added.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer was expected to announce recognition of a Palestinian state on Sunday, with The Telegraph reporting that he would also announce a new round of sanctions on Hamas terrorists.
In July, Starmer announced that his government would declare its recognition of “Palestine” if Jerusalem does not stop its war against the Palestinian terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip by Sept. 21.
Nearly nine in 10 Britons reject Starmer’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state without conditions, according to a survey reported by The Telegraph on Saturday.
The JL Partners poll found that just 13% of Britons—dropping to 11% among Labour voters—favor unconditional recognition, while 51% oppose recognition as long as Hamas still controls Gaza and hostages remain captive.
The survey also found that 40% believe recognition should be tied to Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire and releasing hostages, while 52% think granting statehood would reward terrorists by conceding to their demands.
Seventeen percent of Britons oppose recognizing Palestinian statehood under any circumstances.
