Israel Raises Rank of So. American Missions; Benno Weiser Named

Israel has raised its diplomatic missions to the rank of Embassy in two Latin American countries, it was learned here today. Until now, the Israeli missions in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic have been accredited to the Israeli envoys stationed in Guatemala and Mexico, respectively. Now full ambassadors will represent Israel in San Jose, capital of Costa Rica, and in Santo Domingo.

The first of the new Latin American envoys, Benjamin Varon, arrived in New York today on his way to his new post, as Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Mr. Varorn, whose name prior to hebraization was Benno Weiser, was director of the Latin American department of the Jewish Agency in New York. For the last four years, he has been head of the Central Institute for Cultural Relations Israel-Ibero America, Spaimand Portugal, with headquarters in Jerusalem.