News Brief

Israel’s first female ambassador to the United Nations presented her credentials to the secretary-general.

Gabriela Shalev began her tenure as Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations on Monday.

“As a woman, as a law professor, and above all as a proud Israeli, I am honored to be given the opportunity to represent Israel in the dynamic arena of the United Nations,” Shalev said as she presented her credentials to Ban Ki-moon. “While our priority remains the security of Israel and addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I intend to engage Israel on a wide range of other issues such as scientific and technological initiatives, and children and women’s rights.”

Shalev is an internationally recognized expert in comparative and contract law. Prior to her appointment, she served as president of the Academic Council and rector of Ono Academic College in Israel.

Until 2002, she was a professor of contract law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and in the past taught at Harvard Law School, Boston College and Temple University, as well as at other institutions of higher education across the United States, Canada and Europe.