Bahrain's state news agency says that King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa issued a royal decree appointing a female Jewish lawmaker to the post of ambassador. The future posting of Hoda Nono, who was widely tipped earlier this year by Bahraini media as the tiny Gulf nation's next ambassador to Washington, was not announced. Nono has served as legislator in Bahrain's all-appointed 40-member Shura Council for three years. She is the first Jew in the Arab world to become ambassador. Bahrain _ a pro-Western island nation with Sunni rulers and a Shiite majority _ is a close Washington ally and hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. Bahrain's Jews number about 50 persons while the population barely reaches half a million. Nono could not immediately be reached for comment.