ALTHOUGH he has yet to find an embassy, Ireland's first ambassador to the state of Israel will today formally take up his posting, presenting his credentials to the President of the state, Mr Ezer Weizman, at a ceremony in Jerusalem.
The new ambassador, Mr Brendan Scannell (46), is a career diplomat who has served previously in Tanzania, London and Washington, and most recently in the Anglo Irish Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.
The decision to appoint a resident Ambassador and open an Embassy was taken only two months ago, so Mr Scannell's preparations have been rather hurried. Since it was felt that Ireland ought to have its own Ambassador on the ground in Israel as it prepares to take over the presidency of the European Union on July 1st, the new envoy has travelled without his wife and children, who will be joining him next month, and without yet having secured Embassy premises in Tel Aviv. Previously, Irish interests here were handled by the Embassy and Ambassador in Greece, with an honorary consul based in Herzliya, just outside Tel Aviv. The new Embassy will be staffed by Mr Scannell and a first secretary.
Disarmingly, Mr Scannell acknowledged yesterday that he had no particular expertise in Middle East affairs, but said he had "kept an eye" on affairs in the region during his six year stint as political consul in Washington.