President Herzog welcomes new British ambassador to Israel
'Israel & the UK have excellent relations, we will continue to work to strengthen them,' Herzog said.
President Isaac Herzog welcomed Simon Walters, the new British ambassador to Israel, on Tuesday.
“My family’s story has deep ties to the UK. Michal & I were honoured to represent Israel at the Royal funeral & coronation. Israel & the UK have excellent relations, we will continue to work to strengthen them,” Herzog said.
The Northern Irish-born diplomat was named as Neil Wigan’s successor in January. Walters served in Israel as Consul in Jerusalem between 2008 and 2011 and has spoken affectionately of his time there, during which his younger son was born in Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital.
Walters has previously praised the strategic relationship between Britain and Israel and the importance of the trade relationship between the two countries, which he said he hoped to built upon in Tel Aviv.
A Middle East specialist who has most recently served as the Foreign Office’s director of national security for the region, Mr Walters said Britain and Israel had worked closely together on counterterrorism issues, and praised Israel for its “unsung role” in the defeat of Daesh, or Isis.
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