Israeli envoy to present credentials to the Queen in ‘next few weeks’

Israel’s Ambassador to the UK will present her credentials to Her Majesty The Queen in “the next few weeks”, the JN understands.

Tzipi Hotovely is expected to finally have an audience with The Queen, after the delay to the traditional ceremony since her appointment in October last year.

The event with The Queen, which is usually held soon after an ambassador takes up their post, was delayed as a result of Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the meeting between The Queen and Ambassador Hotovely will still be online as a result of ongoing restrictions.

According to sources, the palace is now working its way through arranging meetings with ambassadors, in order in which they arrived to the UK.

Ambassadors presenting their credentials to the Queen this week, arrived in August or September 2020.

• READ MORE – Tzipi Hotovely: Fighting a virus without vaccine  

Ambassadors who present their credentials to The Queen are known as “Heads of Mission”. However, representatives from countries like Canada where The Queen is the Head of State, are known as “Realm Heads of Mission”. They have a private audience with The Queen, but do not have a credentials ceremony.

Ambassador Hotovely was appointed to represent the Jewish State by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This is her first diplomatic posting.

A career politician who joined the Knesset in 2009, the move was controversial due to Ambassador Hotovely’s political background.

Critics questioned the decision to appoint Likud’s former Diaspora and Settlements Minister to the position, especially given the UK government’s official opposition to the expansion of Israeli settlements.

In an early interview with the Jewish News, she has said: “Britain is a very important diplomatic arena and sending a minister is a statement.”