Israeli envoy to Canada quits in protest over new government's policies

Ronen Hoffman in an emotional Twitter post thanks officials for the opportunity to serve abroad, but explains he cannot continue his role over 'personal and professional integrity'
Ynet|
Israel’s Ambassador to Canada Ronen Hoffman announced Sunday he intends to step down from his role in protest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu government's policies.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

  • Taking to Twitter, Hoffman thanked former Prime Minister Yair Lapid for appointing him as the ambassador, and for trusting him to represent Israel abroad.
    1 View gallery
    רונן הופמן
    רונן הופמן
    Ronen Hoffman
    (Photo: Liat Mandel)
    Hoffman added, however, that he did not see eye-to-eye with the ideas of Netanyahu’s new hard-right coalition, such as the controversial judicial overhaul.
    “With the transition to the new government and to different policy in Israel, my personal and professional integrity has compelled me to request to shorten my post and return to Israel this summer,” Hoffman wrote.
    Finally, the ambassador made it clear that he intends to continue his position in Canada until his successor is chosen by Netanyahu’s government.
    Meanwhile, protests against the planned judicial reforms continued in Tel Aviv and other cities in Israel, including Haifa, Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva, on Saturday evening.
    Some 110,000 protestors arrived for a mass rally in Tel Aviv, alongside politicians from opposition parties, including Lapid and Benny Gantz.
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""