The Israeli government has confirmed the appointment of Dr. Yechiel Leiter, a long-time ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the new ambassador to the United States. The nomination was unanimously approved, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry on Sunday.
Leiter, 65, is a former advisor to Netanyahu and a native of the United States. He resides in a West Bank settlement and has strong ties to the US Republican Party. He previously held a leadership role with the Yesha Council, representing Israeli settlers in the 1990s.
The announcement coincides with President-elect Donald Trump naming Mike Huckabee, a hardline conservative, as his choice for US ambassador to Israel. Leiter’s appointment reflects the close coordination between Israeli leadership and the incoming US administration.
