Avriel (Ueberall), Ehud

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AVRIEL (Ueberall), EHUD

AVRIEL (Ueberall ), EHUD (1917–1980), Israeli diplomat. Born in Vienna, Avriel settled in Palestine in 1939 and became a member of kibbutz Ne'ot Mordekhai. During World War ii he was active in the *Haganah rescue of European Jews. From 1942 to 1944 he was stationed in Istanbul. In 1948 he went to Czechoslovakia to purchase arms. Avriel was Israel's first minister to Czechoslovakia and Hungary (1948), and was later minister to Romania (1950). From 1955 to 1957 he was a *Mapai member of Knesset. He later served as ambassador to Ghana, Congo (Leopoldville), and Liberia (1957–60). From 1961 to 1965 Avriel was deputy director general of the Foreign Ministry, in charge of African affairs, and one of the pioneers of Israel's policy of developing close ties with the new African nations. From 1965 to 1968 he was ambassador to Italy. At the 27th Zionist Congress in 1968 he was elected chairman of the General Zionist Council. His autobiography, Open the Gates, appeared in 1975.

[Benjamin Jaffe]