Noted Middle East scholar Itamar Rabinovich, who heads Israel’s negotiating team with Syria, is to be Israel’s new ambassador to Washington, replacing Zalman Shoval.
Rabinovich will continue in his post as head of the Israeli delegation to the peace talks with Syria, being held in Washington.
Rabinovich confirmed a headline report to this effect Sunday in the Israeli daily Yediot Achronot. He would not say exactly when he would take up the post, although it was reported that it could be at the end of the month.
Rabinovich, who is 49, is also presently rector of Tel Aviv University.
He was appointed chief negotiator to the talks with Syria in August by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, soon after Rabin assumed Israel’s leadership post.
Rabinovich was chosen to succeed Yosef Ben-Aharon, who had previously been chief aide to former Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir.
Both appointments of Rabinovich were made in consultation with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres.
Shoval is to end his service in Washington at the end of November, and Rabin and Peres are pressing Rabinovich to take up the post as soon as possible after that.
The change would be particularly appropriate if a new administration is preparing to take office in Washington, Yediot Achronot reported.
Rabinovich is a specialist in modern Middle Eastern history, particularly in Syrian studies. He has also been director of the Dayan Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Tel Aviv University.
Among the books he has authored is "The War for Lebanon: 1970-1985." His latest book, "The Road Not Taken," is a chronicle of diplomatic efforts to reach negotiations between Israel and the Arabs in Israel’s formative years.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
