The Israeli government has approved the appointment of Yechiel Leiter, a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Israel’s ambassador to the United States, the Israeli Foreign Ministry reports.
Leiter, 65, a US-born American who lives in an Israeli colony in the West Bank, was granted a diplomatic mission after holding key positions in the Netanyahu administration. Previously, he was a leader of the Yesha Council, an organisation representing the interests of Israeli settlers in the West Bank, and has been actively supporting settler policies since the 1990s.
Leiter’s new appointment as US ambassador marks an even closer rapprochement between Israel and the Donald Trump administration, which he openly supports. Leiter is known for his criticism of the Joe Biden administration’s foreign policy, particularly with regard to the war in Gaza. He has repeatedly stated that US pressure on Israel’s tactics in military operations is hostile and unfriendly to the state of Israel.
Yechiel Leiter will replace Mike Herzog, the brother of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who has held the post since 2021. The new ambassador is poised to join an important diplomatic phase in Israel, especially after the election of Donald Trump to a second term, which could further strengthen Israeli-American relations.
In addition, after his appointment, Leiter is expected to work actively on the development of security policy in the Middle East and to conduct political consultations at the international level on issues related to relations between the two countries.
