August 27 – New York – Valerie Hoffenberg, Director of AJC France, has been named France’s Special Representative for the Economic, Cultural, Commercial, Educational, and Environmental Dimensions of the Middle East Peace Process.
“For the past five years, Valerie has been a dynamic and influential voice for Israel and the Jewish people in France,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris. “We wish her every success in her prestigious new post, and we know she will strive to contribute to peace and development in the Middle East.”
In a letter to Hoffenberg appointing her to the new post, French President Nicolas Sarkozy wrote, “Your knowledge of the region and of the Gulf countries, the many ties you have established in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East, and your ability to mobilize the economic sector and civil society, will strengthen France’s efforts in these areas.” Hoffenberg will work in coordination with U.S. and European Union partners, among others.
Hoffenberg has previously worked with the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to develop a multipurpose industrial park in Bethlehem. Of those efforts, Sarkozy said, “You have shown that it is possible to make progress on concrete projects between Israelis and Palestinians.”
Hoffenberg has been AJC’s representative in Paris since 2004. |
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