Knesset member Zalman Shuval of Likud’s Rafi-Ometz faction is stated to be Israel’s next ambassador to Washington, according to a report Thursday in Ma’ariv.
The paper reported that Foreign Minister David Levy had agreed to a request by Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir that Shuval be named. But the nomination still requires the approval of the Foreign Ministry’s nominations committee and of the Cabinet, and acceptance of his credential in Washington.
To take up the diplomatic post, Shuval would have to resign from the Knesset, where his place would be taken by Chaim Kaufman of Likud.
Shuval, 60, was born in Danzig, Germany now Gdansk, Poland, and came to Palestine at the age of 8. He served in the Intelligence Corps of the Israel Defense Force and retired with the rank of captain.
He joined the Foreign Ministry at the age of 25 and served two years before entering banking. He served two terms as chairman of the Israel Union of Banks and acting chairman of the Export Bank, before switching to politics.
Israel’s current envoy to Washington, Moshe Arad, is due here next week for consultations.
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