Hoffenberg, who is Jewish and a political ally of President Nicolas Sarkozy, has held several positions in his party and was made special envoy to the region in 2008. In that capacity she helped cultivate financial, educational and cultural ties between Israelis, Palestinians and residents of neighboring countries.
Hoffenberg says she intended to leave her position in any case this fall so as to run for parliament, but that she had hoped to step down in a more dignified manner. "I was surprised to hear of my firing in this manner," she admits. "The fact is that I am pushing the president on this question [of Palestinian declaration of statehood] and making a lot of noise. In France there are a lot of visions, and mine clearly does not sit well with everyone in the ministry or around the president. This is a game of power."
French Mideast envoy fired for opposing Palestinian UN bid - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News