Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed U.S.-born Yechiel Leiter, a former chief of staff in the finance ministry, as Israel’s next ambassador to the United States.
“Yechiel Leiter is a highly capable diplomat, an eloquent speaker, and possesses a deep understanding of American culture and politics,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
The appointment has also drawn praise from Yisrael Ganz, head of the Yesha Council, which represents Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Ganz described Leiter, who resides in the Gush Etzion settlement area, as “a key partner in English-language advocacy for Judea and Samaria,” a term used by many Israelis for the West Bank, a region captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war and sought by Palestinians for a future state.
Beyond his role in the finance ministry, Leiter’s career has included serving as deputy director general in the Education Ministry and acting chairman of the Israel Ports Company. Tragically, his son was killed last year during the Gaza conflict against the Palestinian militant group Hamas while serving with the Israeli military.
