ALBAWABA - According to a report by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN), Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan has ended his 4 year UN tenure after allegedly being denied a personal favor.
The report by the Israeli service revealed that Erdan refused to extend his stay in the US after ending his post as Israeli Ambassador to the UN, citing family considerations.
Prime Minister's office released a statement commenting on Erdan's decision saying that he was offered the the option of staying in the US and becoming Israel’s ambassador in Washington, a post he held for a year simultaneously with his role at the UN, which he refused.
The KAN report said that Erdan first requested the Israeli Finance Ministry to fund an additional apartment, so he could stay close to his children who are currently studying in New York, a request that was rejected in return.
The report further detailed that despite the pressure by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to grant Erdan his request, a general accountant at the finance ministry refused to sign off on the request, saying that it would have an annual cost of at least 1 million shekels.
Erdan, a member of Netanyahu's Likud party, rose to fame across the political scene at the UN with his stunts and gimmicks. According to reports, Netanyahu has chosen not to extend the mandate of Israel's current ambassador to Washington, Michael Herzog.
While ambassadors' terms are sometimes extended for an additional year, Netanyahu has opted not to extend that courtesy to Herzog.
The prime minister allegedly blamed Herzog for not doing more to win Netanyahu's invitation to the White House last year, when relations with US President Joe Biden deteriorated due to acts by his tough administration.
