Gordon Brown to appoint former Israel envoy as policy adviser
Olmert, Foreign Ministry satisfied with future British PM's appointment of Simon McDonald, said pro-Israel.
By Barak RavidThe man expected to be the next British prime minister, Gordon Brown, is appointing the United Kingdom's former ambassador to Israel, Simon McDonald as his chief foreign policy adviser.
Political sources in Jerusalem expressed their satisfaction with the candidate, describing McDonald as "a friend to Israel."
McDonald, 46, served as the British ambassador to Israel viv from 2003 to 2006. The Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem regard him with great esteem.
He had been considered one of the most influential foreign envoys posted to Israel, and one well-connected to Israeli decision-makers.
In his 25 years of service in the Foreign Office, McDonald has served in several Arab countries as well. For the past year, he has been the head of Iraq policy at the Foreign Office.
The Financial Times, which reported the choice of McDonald, added that his move will be warmly welcomed by the Foreign Office, amid fears that Brown might have drawn all his international policy advisers from outside the ministry.
The paper quoted Foreign Office sources as saying thatunder the outgoing prime minister, Tony Blair, the Foreign Office has sometimes felt marginalized. However, the appointment of McDonald signals it will remain at the center of foreign policy-making once the Brown premiership starts.
Political sources in Jerusalem were equally jubilant about the appointment. "It is a signal that Britain will continue its positive policy toward Israel," they said.
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Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni speaking with then British ambassador Simon McDonald during an event at the ambassador's residence in Ramat Gan last year. (Guy Raivitz) |
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Could someone from 1 to 7 explain why the appointment of this Zionist is an 'excellent' choice?
Do you think some day a hard working man from India of indian decent will some day be prime m inister of Israel.Do you think a hard working black man from jamaica will some day be foriegn minister for Israel.Or do they not work hard enough for the likes of you.
Brown has made a very smart choice. McDonald is incredibly intelligent, and will do a great job. He's also incredibly HOT. Oh, and Dovy - when was the last time you met a Jew called McDonald?! If world leaders are appointing people with a deep knowledge of the s*** that goes on in this region, maybe it's just a sign that people are finally taking it really seriously and want to find a solution.
Dovy: I wasn't aware that McDonald is a Jewish name.
Maybe Jews are succesfull because they work hard and don't sit around posting bigoted responses on a news webpage about how Jews control everything.
People claim that the "Jews" control everything. Well, what are they supposed to expect when Browne appoints this guy as his chief advisor, when Sarkozy appoints a guy named Levy as his chief advisor, when a guy named Zoellick replaces a guy named Wolfowitz to head the World Bank, when a guy named Bernanke runs the private bank called the Federal Reserve Bank?!!
'Bush needs a legacy, and I think most Israelis and Palestinians have had enough.' You are wrong period. You don't know either us or 'Palestinians'.
Respected by both sides. Hopefully a person whom both sides can tell him how it is with no bullshit, what they are prepared to and more importantly, what they are not prepared to do. Bush needs a legacy, and I think most Israelis and Palestinians have had enough. Yes there are cheerleaders for hatred on both sides, the secret is, is to allow the majority to speak out and sideline the jihadists and the Zionists Plans are afoot, and the major players are sat in a hotel in Germany.