Moshe Arad

Moshe Arad studied political science, international relations, and law at the Hebrew University. He worked as an aide to Justice Minister Yaacov Shimshon Shapira and later held senior Foreign Ministry posts overseeing information and the diplomatic service. After serving as ambassador in Mexico, he was chosen for Washington in 1987. His appointment ended months of disagreement between Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres over the post. ^{1, 2}

Arad's Washington work included defending Israel's negotiating position and maintaining contacts across American political divides. In August 1988 he met Jesse Jackson for more than two hours, discussing the Arab–Israeli conflict and tensions between Black and Jewish Americans. He rejected Jackson's offer to act as an intermediary, arguing that negotiations should be conducted by the parties with United States government assistance. ³

After leaving Washington in 1990, Arad practiced law, led the Ministry of Communications in 1992–93, and served as the Hebrew University's vice president for external relations from 1994 to 2004. He also held corporate directorships, including at Elbit Systems. ²