Britain’s new ambassador to Israel begins work

Britain’s new ambassador to Israel began his role this morning in Tel Aviv.

David Quarrey takes over from Matthew Gould, who was in the position for five years.

The new envoy has vast experience, having joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1994. 

He previously served as Director for the Near East and North Africa,  Private Secretary to Prime Minister Tony Blair and Director for Foreign Policy in the National Security Secretariat. He has also served overseas at the UK Mission to the United Nations, around the world. 

Quarrey said: “It is a great privilege to be the new British Ambassador to Israel. Israel is a fantastic posting. I look forward to getting to know all of Israel’s communities.

“I want to deepen the partnership between our two countries, in particular strengthening our ties in the fields of trade, investment, science, technology and cooperation against shared security threats, and work for progress toward peace.”

When it emerged he would succeed Matthew Gould in 2014, who was the first Jewish UK ambassador to Israel; one senior community source said Quarrey has a “reputation for being fair and balanced when it comes to the Middle East”. Another said: “In his current role, he has gone out of his way to engage with communal leaders including at key moments like the Palestinian’s UN statehood bid.”

Gould will take up a new position as Director of Cyber Security at the Cabinet Office.