Israeli ambassador to US resigns
Gilad Erdan recently replaced Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer, a close confidant of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Gilad Erdan in his office at the Israeli Embassy in Washington.
The American Axios website reported that the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Gilad Erdan, resigned on Sunday, hours after receiving Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in the American capital, Washington, where Rivlin will meet today, Monday, with President Joe Biden at the White House.
Erdan's decision comes as both the Biden administration and new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett get to know each other, especially on more contentious issues such as Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"I believe it is up to the current government to appoint an ambassador that will represent it politically with the administration," Erdan tweeted on Sunday.
I believe it is up to the current government to appoint an ambassador that will represent it politically with the administration. However, I will continue to defend Israel at the UN and fight for justice in the international arena. 3/3
— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) June 27, 2021
Erdan recently replaced Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer, a close confidant of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who served as ambassador to America for eight years and has become one of Washington's most influential diplomats.
He will continue to serve as the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations.
The site said that Rivlin's visit to Washington is a farewell tour for him, as his seven-year term ends next month, handing the presidency over to Isaac Herzog on July 9.
Axios stated that Rivlin met last week with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid to coordinate the Israeli message on Iran to the United States.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Lapid met in Rome on Sunday, where they discussed regional stability, State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
