Professor Gabriela Shalev was named Israel's newambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday. Shalev will take over for Ambassador Dan Gilerman, whose tenure is expected to end within a few weeks.
Shalev, who is serving as the Rector of the Ono Academic College, was an associate professor of law at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and is considered a world renowned expert on contracts' law.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni namedShalev after several other candidates have turned the position down. The matter of the UN appointment was grounds for a fierce political battle between Livni and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ,who favored former consul-general in New York, Alon Pinkas, for the job.
Pinkas is considered savvy in the ways of American politics. His nomination was also backed by President Shimon Peres ,Defense Minister Ehud Barak andKnesset Speaker Dalia Itzik.
Sources familiar with the nomination proceedings told Ynet Livni objected to naming anyone so closely identified with Olmert and Itzik. She also wanted to be the one who has the final say in naming the ambassador to the UN, and reportedly fought Pinkas' nomination form the get go.
Prof. Shalev declined comment, saying she will not address the reports of her nomination before it becomes final.