Dr. Yehuda Lancry was born in 1947 in Bujad, Morocco. After completing his secondary studies, Yehuda made aliyah in 1965 and served from 1966 until 1970 in the Israel Defense Forces as mechanic in the Israeli Air Force.

Lancry studied at the University of Haifa and earned a masters degree in French literature from the University of Nice and later went on to earn his PhD in French literature.

Dr. Lancry later served as the head the Documentary and Film Publications Department of Raphael (Authority for Defense Technology) and then as an Emissary of the youth department of the Jewish Agency in Antibes, France.

Following his time in France, Dr. Lancry served as Head of Public Council of Israel Television’s Channel Two and radio and subsequently served as mayor of the town of Shlomi for two terms.

In 1992, Dr. Lancry was appointed to serve as Israel’s Ambassador to France and upon his return to Israel, he was subsequently elected to the Knesset where he served as Deputy Speaker from 1996 until 1999.

In 1999, Lancry was appointed as Israel’s Permanent representative to the United Nations in New York and served until 2002.

Upon his return to Israel, Dr. Lancry published many articles in academic journals and publications, and has co-authored two books.