UK-born politician named Jerusalem’s first Diaspora minister

New Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion has appointed British-born Fleur Hassan-Nahoum as the city’s first minister to the Diaspora, to strengthen world Jewry’s perception of the Holy City.

Hassan-Nahoum has also been named the new head of the Jerusalem Will Succeed Party. She will be deputy mayor in charge of foreign relations, including, philanthropy, economic development, business relations and Diaspora affairs.

Her appointment came about following coalition negotiations between Lion and several parties ranging from the ultra-Orthodox Shas Likud to the leftwing Meretz Party, meaning 10 of the 11 parties that won seats in the recent city council elections will be in the coalition.

Speaking to Jewish News at the Limmud Festival, she said, “I am delighted to have this opportunity to help to re-brand Zionism. We need to go back to basics by clearly explaining to people the origins of Zionism.

“Every one needs to put a mirror to their faces: Israelis and Diaspora. The reason the relationship is not working is because we don’t talk in nuance. I speak for Israel all over the world. And I have learnt that we must not speak in definite terms. Israel is complex. It’s vital that the issues on the ground are clearly articulated, to the right audiences.”

Hassan-Nahoum, a mother-of-four who made Aliyah in 2001, studied law at King’s College London, before entering Middle Temple as a barrister.

She is former campaigns chief for World Jewish Relief.