The Israeli government announced on Sunday the approval of Yechiel Leiter, a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the country’s new ambassador to the United States. The appointment comes amidst key diplomatic changes, with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump nominating conservative Mike Huckabee as the next U.S. ambassador to Israel.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the decision in a statement, saying, “The government has unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Yechiel Leiter as ambassador to the United States.”
Leiter, 65, is a prominent figure in Israeli politics and diplomacy. A former advisor to Netanyahu, Leiter was born in the United States and now resides in a settlement in the occupied West Bank. He has deep ties to the U.S. Republican Party and previously held leadership roles within the Yesha Council, an organization representing Israeli settlers in the West Bank during the 1990s.
A member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, Leiter is currently engaged as a strategic advisor for various Israeli think tanks. His appointment underscores Netanyahu’s efforts to maintain robust ties with the incoming U.S. administration, led by a staunchly pro-Israel President-elect Trump.
Leiter’s personal life has also been marked by tragedy. His son, Moshe Leiter, was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip in November 2023 during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which erupted after the October attacks on southern Israel.
The new ambassador is expected to assume his post after Trump’s inauguration next year, succeeding Mike Herzog, who has served in the role since 2021. Herzog, the brother of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, will be stepping down following two years in Washington.
Leiter has been vocal in his criticism of current U.S. President Joe Biden, particularly during the recent war in Gaza. In a January interview with Israeli broadcaster Tov, Leiter condemned what he described as “American pressure” during the conflict.
Meanwhile, Israel has welcomed Trump’s nomination of Mike Huckabee as U.S. ambassador to Israel. Huckabee, a longtime supporter of Israeli policies, attended the 2017 expansion of Maale Adumim, one of the largest Israeli settlements in the West Bank. His appointment signals strong backing for Israel’s settlement policies and broader regional goals under Trump’s leadership.
Leiter’s nomination is seen as a strategic move to solidify U.S.-Israel relations amid shifting global dynamics and domestic political changes in both nations.
