William Brown was named the U.S. ambassador to Israel by President Reagan Tuesday, and is expected to stay on during the administration of President-elect George Bush.
Brown is one of 32 appointments, including five ambassadors, made by Reagan under his powers to act during a congressional recess. Brown does not need to be confirmed until after Bush takes office Jan. 20.
Reagan had originally designated Brown in May, but his nomination, as that of other ambassadors, was held up by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The current ambassador, Thomas Pickering, has been at that post since Aug. 1, 1985, and is the senior member of the State Department’s Foreign Service.
Brown, the U.S. ambassador to Thailand, was second in command at the embassy in Tel Aviv under Pickering’s predecessor, Samuel Lewis.
A State Department source said Brown is expected to be sworn in the week of Nov. 28. He added that it was “his understanding” that Brown would remain ambassador after Jan. 20, even though he will formally have to submit his resignation at that time.
Morris Amitay, a pro-Israel activist on Capitol Hill, said he had “heard some pretty good things” about Brown.
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