AIPAC bringing in a new spokesman

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has hired a new spokesman.

Ari Goldberg, currently the spokesman for the U.S. government overseas broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, will replace Josh Block, who left AIPAC in October to start a consultancy with Lanny Davis, a leading Democratic lawyer. Goldberg will start his new post near the end of February.

“I’m excited to take up the new position,” Goldberg said in a statement released by AIPAC, the leading pro-Israel lobby in the United States. “I’ve been a supporter and admirer of AIPAC for as long as I can remember.”

According to Politico, which first reported the hire on Feb. 4, Goldberg’s background is working as a staffer for longstanding Jewish congressmen Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Howard Berman (D-Calif.), and as a journalist in Israel.

Renee Rothstein, AIPAC’s communications director, said in a statement on Goldberg that “His media and Hill experience, combined with his knowledge and familiarity with Israel, will be assets to our organization.”