Israel's UN envoy Gilad Erdan took on a second role today as the country’s ambassador to the United States. Erdan is expected to shuttle between New York and Washington, serving in the two positions simultaneously.
Erdan was nominated for both positions last May in a surprising and exceptional decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At the time, Erdan was a popular outgoing public security minister. Netanyahu was in the process of establishing the unity government with the Blue and White Party and other political partners. He had too many Likud candidates for just a handful of portfolios. Nominating Erdan as ambassador was a win-win situation for Netanyahu, even at the price of two ambassadorial posts.
