In the video: The US Ambassador to Israel (Photo: Roni Knafo)
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides will leave his post this summer after nearly two years in Jerusalem, sources told Walla! Two senior U.S. officials.
Why it's important:
Nides announced his departure at a time when the government's plan to weaken the judiciary is still creating difficulties in relations between Israel and the United States. More than four months after Prime Minister Netanyahu took office, President Biden has yet to invite him to the White House.
The U.S. Ambassador to Israel is one of the most sensitive and politically volatile diplomatic positions in the U.S. State Department. This is partly due to the special relationship between Israel and the United States, the large Jewish community in the United States, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
News Focus:
A senior U.S. official said that during a working visit to Washington last week, Nides briefed U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on his desire to step down this summer.
The U.S. official noted that Nides told Blinken and Sullivan that he wanted to return to the U.S. for personal reasons after living in Israel far from his wife and children who remained in the U.S. since December 2021. On Monday evening, a few hours before the IDF strike on the Gaza Strip, Nides updated senior officials in the Prime Minister's Office on his decision to step down.
This morning, Nides convened senior staff at the U.S. Embassy and updated them on his decision.
Nides was appointed to the position in June 2021 after serving in a senior position in the management of Morgan Stanley Bank. During President Obama's first term, Nides served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Administrative Affairs under then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Nides, who for many years was a key activist in the Democratic Party, is considered very close to former President Biden's chief of staff Ron Klain and current White House chief of staff Jeff Zients. He is also very close to Blinken, Sullivan and other senior administration officials.
U.S. Ambassador Tom Nides (Photo: official website, Conference of Presidents)
The big picture:
Nides worked with three different prime ministers during his tenure as ambassador to Israel and was able to establish close working relationships with each of them. He was highly regarded by politicians across the political spectrum.
During Benjamin Netanyahu's tenure as opposition leader, Nides forged a close relationship with him, which helped him bridge gaps and resolve differences after Netanyahu won the elections and formed the new government.
The only party leaders Nides refrained from working with were Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and members of their far-right parties.
Relations between Israel and the United States over the past four months have been extremely complex, especially due to the government's plan to weaken the judicial system and government policy on the Palestinian issue. During this period, Nides conveyed strong messages to Netanyahu several times.
He delivered the strongest message on March 27, the day after Defense Minister Galant was fired over his speech against the legal revolution. Nides dictated to one of the prime minister's advisers a strong personal message from President Biden to Netanyahu, demanding a halt to the legislative process, a senior US official said.
Israeli and U.S. officials said Nides went to great lengths to improve the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank and pushed for increased U.S. aid to East Jerusalem hospitals and an extension of Allenby Bridge's opening hours for Palestinian traffic between the West Bank and Jordan.
US Secretary of State Blinken (Photo: Reuters, None)
What's next:
U.S. officials said Nides' deputy at the embassy in Jerusalem, professional diplomat Stephanie Hallett, is expected to serve as acting U.S. ambassador after Nides leaves Israel.
The political situation in Washington and the presidential campaign that will begin in the coming months will make it very difficult for Biden to appoint a new ambassador and confirm him in the Senate quickly. The alt may remain as a substitute for a long time.
Halt began her role as deputy ambassador to Israel last August after President Biden's visit. Prior to that, she served as director of the Middle East Department at the White House National Security Council and prepared the president's visit to the Middle East.
As part of her work at the U.S. State Department, Hallett served at the U.S. embassies in Egypt, Oman, Bahrain and Cyprus, and was also assigned as a member of the U.S. State Department's Iran team.
U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken told Walla!: "Tom fulfilled his role with his characteristic energy and talent, strengthened the bond between the United States and Israel, and promoted U.S. security, political and economic interests. He will be missed when he finishes his term as our representative in Israel, but I know he can't wait to spend more time with his family and he has earned it honestly."
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- Tom Nides
- United States
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- Joe Biden
- Benjamin Netanyahu