Israel Denies Dermer Ambassador Reports
By Nathan Guttman December 30, 2012
Israeli officials have denied newspaper reportes that Ron Dremer, an aide to Benjamin Netanyahu with close ties to Republicans, would be taking over as Israel’s ambassador to the U.S.
It took Israeli officials more than 24 hours, perhaps due to the Sabbath in which government offices do not work, in order to issue a broad denial to the report, which first appeared in Israel’s Makor Rishon newspaper on Friday.
“The report is baseless,” said Aaron Sagui, spokesman of the Israeli embassy in Washington. The embassy’s statement came after receiving clarifications from the Prime Minister’s office in Jerusalem. Sagui added: “No decision has been made regarding the next ambassador to the United States or the timing of appointing a new ambassador.”
He said Ambassador Michael Oren “is continuing in his position as planned.”
Oren will complete a four year tenure this summer, but Israeli law does not limit the term of political appointed ambassadors such as Oren.
Ron Dremer, who was born in the U.S. and now serves as Netanyahu’s adviser, is known for his close ties to the Republican Party and according to reports he was the driving force behind the warm welcome losing presidential candidate Mitt Romney received during his July visit to Jerusalem.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
