Israel’s new ambassador presents credentials to UK's queen
Daniel Taub arrives at Buckingham palace, becoming the 18th top representative of Israel in the UK.
By JONNY PAUL, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENTDANIEL AND ZEHAVA Taub arrive at Buckingham Palace 311(photo credit: Yakir Zur)
LONDON – New ambassador to the UK Daniel Taub presented his diplomatic credentials to Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, becoming the 18th top representative of Israel in the UK.Taub was accompanied by his wife, Zehava, Deputy Head of Mission Alon Roth-Snir, defense attaché Col. Hadar Furman and other embassy staff.“It has been a truly remarkable day, full of remarkable experiences,” the ambassador recounted at a ceremony at his official residence on Thursday attended by Jewish community organization heads.“One of the most special was having the opportunity for the first time in my life to say the special 2,000 year bracha [blessing] that we make when seeing a reigning monarch,” he said.The queen showed interest in Israel’s hi-tech sector, and the ambassador explained that in the absence of natural resources, Israel has come to the realization that human ingenuity is its key resource.They also discussed the revival of the Hebrew language and opportunities for deepening cultural and academic links between their countries.Recalling his conversation with the queen, Taub said his tenure would be an opportunity to recognize Britain’s role in the establishment of the State of Israel.“The queen asked me what it had been like to have been raised in Britain and now be serving as an ambassador. I said to her that I felt tremendously privileged that it fell to me to raise my children in their historic homeland after 2,000 years of exile.
“But I also know that when I look at our history, that the period of greatest opportunity in that arc of 2,000 years was found here in Britain, and it is really my hope that I will be able to express my appreciation for that by deepening the ties and cooperation between our countries, and in doing that I know that I am heir to a tremendous tradition of cooperation and friendship,” he said.Born in London, Taub has degrees from Oxford and Harvard and has 18 years experience in the Foreign Ministry, where he has played a key role in a range of high-level legal and diplomatic arenas. He has been extensively involved in negotiations with both the Palestinians and the Syrians.
