(JTA) — New Zealand appointed separate envoys to Israel and the Palestinian Authority six months after rejecting a new ambassador because he was responsible for both entities.
Jim McLay, New Zealand’s representative at the United Nations in New York, was appointed Friday the special adviser to Foreign Minister Murray McCully and will serve as New Zealand’s representative to the Palestinian Authority, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Jonathan Curr, based in Turkey, who is the ambassador to Turkey, Jordan, Georgia and Azerbaijan, will serve as envoy to Israel as originally planned when he took the position in September.
The prior two New Zealand ambassadors to Israel also were accredited to the Palestinian Authority, but Israel was not aware of it. The change means that the P.A. will have a more senior diplomat in the position.
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