Dan Gillerman is chairman of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce.
The "Yediot Ahronot" Hebrew daily reported that Minister of Foreign Affairs Shimon Peres has chosen Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce chairman Dan Gillerman as the next Israeli ambassador to the UN. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon consented to the appointment.
Gillerman is a confidant of Peres. His name was mentioned as Peres's candidate for Ambassador to the US, but Sharon vetoed him. After Danny Ayalon was appointed to the US post, Peres proposed Gillerman for Ambassador to the UN.
MK David Levy (Gesher) exerted heavy pressure on Sharon to extend the appointment of current Ambassador to the UN Yehuda Lancry, his confidant. It was eventually decided that Lancry would remain in office until the end of the year, when Gillerman would replace him.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on June 24, 2002