Hawkish parliamentarian named as Israel's UN ambassador

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has named a hawkish member of his party to the sensitive post of the country's ambassador to the United Nations.

Netanyahu's office said Friday that Danny Danon will take up the prestigious posting. The outspoken Danon is a former deputy defense minister who currently serves as science and space minister.

Netanyahu says the UN "is an important forum right now" and that he is convinced Danon "will fight with all his power to present the truth in the international arena."

Netanyahu recently appointed an official from the West Bank settler movement, Dani Dayan, as ambassador to Brazil.

Meanwhile, a government official says Netanyahu's foreign media spokesman Mark Regev will soon be appointed ambassador to London. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under regulations.