after government announcement, country’s ambassador to France resigns

Israel’s ambassador to France, Yael German, tendered her resignation Thursday, December 29 following the legislative elections of November 1 which brought to power the new government of Benjamin Netanyahu, the most right-wing in the history of Israel.

Yael German posted at midday on Twitter the letter in Hebrew sent to the new head of government.

מכתב ההתפטרות מתפקידי כשגרירת ישראל בצרפת. מכתב ששלחתי לרוה »מ לפני כשעה. pic.twitter.com/O793ezBCKr

— יעל גרמן Yael German (@GermanYael1) December 29, 2022

“Your policy, the statements of your government ministers and the intentions of legislation are contrary to my conscience, my worldview and the principles of the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel”says the ambassador.

« In these conditions, I cannot lie to myself and continue to represent a different policy in such a radical way from everything in which I believe and that is why I present to you my resignation from my post as Ambassador of Israel to France. »

Former Minister of Health

Benyamin Netanyahu presented his ministerial team to the deputies in the morning, before a vote of confidence without suspense in Parliament. He notably announced the appointment of former intelligence minister Eli Cohen as head of foreign affairs. The day before, he had indicated that Yoav Gallant, a former senior officer considered close to the pro-colonization movement in the occupied West Bank, was going to obtain the defense.

A historian by training, Yael German began her political career in the Meretz (left) party. Mayor of the city of Herziliya, she was elected MP in 2013 under the colors of the Yesh Atid (“There is a future”) party of outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid. Minister of Health from March 2013 to December 2014, she was appointed to Paris in 2021.