Gabriela Shalev

Gabriela Shalev (1941), Hebrew University law professor, later rector of Ono Academic Center. Currently Israel's Ambassador to the UN.

Gabriela Shalev was appointed as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations on the 8th of September 2008. Professor Shalev has provided legal advice and opinions for organizations around this world, and has been aware several prizes for academic legal research, including the Sussman Prize for Law (1989) the Seltner Prize for Law (1991) as well as the Israel Bar Association Prize (2003). In addition to advocating democracy, constitutionalism and civil rights, Professor Shalev is also a board member of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Through her tenure, Professor Shalev is likely to promote legal mechanisms in which Israel’s and Palestinians can attempt to reach a cease fire agreement, as well as developing civil law in conjunction with Judaist principles. Amongst Shalev’s many challenges, perhaps one of the most long-term issues is the hostility of Iran and Palestine towards Israel, and threats from Iran to ‘wipe Israel off the map’ and the feelings of Israelis towards the United Nation, a role likened by outgoing ambassador Dan Gillerman as '… wear(ing) two hats here: one is representing Israel at the UN - which is difficult enough; the other, which is even tougher, is representing the UN in Israel

Prior to her appointment to the United Nations, Professor Shalev was widely respected for her extensive knowledge of Hebrew law, and had lectured as a Professor of Law at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem since 1986. Professor Shalev’s appointment means she is the first female Israeli representative, and regarding Professor Shalev’s appointment to the United Nations, Israeli Foreign Minister and Deptuty Prime Minister Tzipi Livni quoted ‘It was important to me to appoint a woman to represent Israel in such an important place. In addition, her extraordinary talents will enable her to deal with the challenges facing Israel. Professor Shalev is internationally respected; she has fulfilled many public positions in Israel, and the appointment committee determined that her impressive reputation and background, as well as her personality, make her a fitting candidate for the position of ambassador to the UN. I am confident of her ability to represent Israel faithfully, and I wish her success."

Since her recent appointment, Professor Shalev has lashed out at Iranian Rafi Eikran’s letters addressed to the Secretary General which accuse Israelis of conspiring to kidnap Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In response, Professor Shalev denied the rumours but criticised that ‘it is absurd that Iran preaches morality to Israel’ and condemned Ahmadinejad for denying the Holocaust and supporting terror organizations and urged the international community to remain focused and complacent regarding the dangers of the Iranian nuclear program. As well as many academic achievements, Professor Shalev has substantial experience in the public and private sector and prior to her appointment served a head of the audit committees of the Bank of Hap’alim, the Hadassah Medical Organisation, the Israel Electric Company and acted as chairsperson the Israeli Broadcasting Authority. It is anticipated she will uphold the strong economic example set by previous Ambassador Dan Gillerman.