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Israel confirms first woman ambassador to Egypt

A year and a half after her initial nomination, the Israeli government has finally approved the appointment of Amira Oron as ambassador to Egypt.
ANTALYA, TURKEY - MAY 27: Israel's chargé d'affaires in Turkey, Amira Oron (C) poses for family photo during the Midterm Review of the Istanbul Programme of Action in Antalya, Turkey on May 27, 2016. The Midterm Review conference for the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries takes place at Titanic Hotel in Antalya, Turkey from 27-29 May 2016. The conference will undertake a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action by the least developed countri

Israel’s government approved the appointment of Amira Oron as the country’s new ambassador to Egypt on June 7, the first woman to ever serve in the position. Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi congratulated Oron, hailing a competent and highly skilled diplomat. Ashkenazi stated he was sure that Oron would effectively promote bilateral relations.

The Foreign Ministry’s appointment committee selected Oron for the ambassadorship in October 2018, but her candidature was not brought for cabinet approval until today. The long delay was caused by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was then serving also as foreign minister and had hoped to appoint Likud lawmaker Ayoud Kara instead. Ranked 39th spot on the Likud list for the 2018 elections, Kara did not make it into the Knesset. The next year, Netanyahu moved to compensate him by appointing him to the embassy in Cairo.

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