New Arabic-speaking US envoy to Israel vows to work on Hebrew
AFP
Date: 09-19-05
JERUSALEM (AFP) - The new US ambassador to Tel Aviv has admitted that he knows little about Israel and speaks Arabic rather than Hebrew.
"I am not familiar with Israel, but I plan to study the country as soon as possible," Richard Jones was quoted as saying by the Yediot Aharonot newspaper on his arrival in the country on Sunday.
During his first meeting with officials from the foreign ministry, Jones then promised to learn Hebrew while revealing that he was a fluent Arabic speaker.
Jones, who was due to formally present his credentials to President Moshe Katsav on Monday, is replacing the outgoing Dan Kurtzer as Washington's representative to its chief ally in the Middle East.
The married father of four has previously served in Beirut and was ambassador to Kuwait when the United States launched its invasion of neighbouring Iraq in 2003.
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