Retired Major General Amos Gilad held a conversation with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides about American policy toward the Middle East, the treatment of the Palestinians, Israeli democracy and why he is leaving his post.
"When President Biden appointed me ambassador, he told me: 'There is an unbreakable bond between Israel and the United States. Don't let that relationship sink into your watch," Nides said. "The alliance between the two countries is strong. This is something much bigger than military ties or intelligence cooperation. We share common values and what it means to be a democracy. Friends argue sometimes, but our relationship can't be severed."
Committed to relations with Israel. Tom Nides, Photo: Gideon Markowitz
In response to a question by retired Major General Gilad whether Israel can attack Iran without the help of the United States and the lack of meetings between President Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Nides said: "The coordination between Israel and the United States vis-à-vis our common enemies stands strong. One of the things President Biden promised Netanyahu was that there would be complete transparency on the issue. We're all focused on this together, including Congress and the White House. It is imperative that we understand the threat. And it's not just Iran, it's also its representatives in the region. We are here to support and work with Israel. We will do everything to make sure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons."
On the issue of normalization with Saudi Arabia, Nides clarified: "I give tremendous credit to the previous administration and to my predecessor, David Friedman, for the achievement that is the Abraham Accords. This is a fundamental change in the dynamics in the region. Normalization with Saudi Arabia will change the game, since it will mean rapprochement with a large part of the Muslim world. I can't predict the future, but we'd love to see how it develops."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Photo: Jonathan Zindel/Flash90
As for the Palestinians, Nides says he has visited all the families of terror victims. "I will never compromise on Israel's security," he stresses. "But for the safety of everyone involved, I believe we need to help the Palestinian people. We want to deal with practical possibilities. We will leave the two-state solution to other thinkers. I believe investing in the Palestinians will ultimately make Israel a much safer place."
Nides announced in early May his desire to leave his position in Israel this summer, a year and a half after being appointed ambassador by the Biden administration. Nides explained the departure for personal and family reasons: The ambassador made it clear that he liked the job very much and that the move was not politically motivated.
US Ambassador and Major General Amos Gilad in an interview, photo: Gideon Markowitz
"Forget which side of the justice reform you are on – for or against. Every weekend, for 20 weeks, between 150,000 and 250,000 Israelis took to the streets. That's the equivalent of six or seven million Americans showing up to protest every week — something that has never happened before. There is no damage to property, no one lost his life, very few were arrested. This is an extraordinary testament to this place. Israel may be going through a complex period, but make no mistake. This is the essence of democracy. Here it thrives with so many people who care about the country. It's something we should all be proud of."
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