Wednesday 5 May 2010

Israel Matzav: Dershowitz turned down offer to be Israel's ambassador to the UN

Dershowitz turned down offer to be Israel's ambassador to the UN

Israel's Hebrew-language daily Yedioth Aharonoth reported on Tuesday that Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz turned down an offer from Prime Minister Netanyahu to become Israel's ambassador to the United Nations (screen capture of original Hebrew report below).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman have been searching for the right candidate for quite a long time after the appointment of Alon Pinkas, a Lieberman candidate, was taken off the agenda. The foreign minister mentioned top Jewish-American lawyer Alan Dershowitz (72) as a potential candidate, and Netanyahu loved the idea. The two sent an envoy to examine his position. If he accepted, he should have made Aliya (immigrated to Israel) and received an Israeli citizenship. Netanyahu counted on his persuasive skills, having done that before when he convinced Stanley Fischer to become Bank of Israel governor, and Fischer indeed immigrated to Israel in 2005. Yet, despite their efforts, Dershowitz declined the offer.

Dershowitz is presently Israel’s most prominent advocate when it comes to war against terror. He believes that Israel is one of the most moral states in the world and that its war against terror is, in many respects, even more moral than the US antiterror efforts.

The prime minister’s bureau responded: “We do not comment on internal discussions concerning positions on the Israeli Foreign Service.” The foreign minister’s bureau refused in principle to confirm or deny candidates’ names before a decision is made. Officials associated with the two leaders, however, confirmed the report.

Hmmm.

Yediot May04-10 [Dershowitz Rejects Netanyahu Offer on UN]
Israel Matzav: Dershowitz turned down offer to be Israel's ambassador to the UN

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