Oren announces ending term as US envoy in fall

After four years on job, Israeli ambassador to the US Michael Oren to step down; speculation Ron Dermer to replace him.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Former Israeli ambassador to US Michael Oren. (photo credit: Hyungwon Kang / Reuters)
Former Israeli ambassador to US Michael Oren.
(photo credit: Hyungwon Kang / Reuters)
Ambassador to the US Michael Oren announced on Friday he would conclude his term as envoy to Washington in the fall, after four years on the job.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to represent the State of Israel and its government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, to the United States, President Barack Obama, the Congress, and the American people,” Oren wrote on his Facebook page.
Netanyahu was thinking as early as last month of selecting his former adviser Ron Dermer to replace Oren. Dermer, like Oren, immigrated to Israel from the United States.
He served in a number of senior roles in the Prime Minister’s Office from 2009 until March of this year.
The appointment of Dermer to the post became possible after he rehabilitated his relationship with the Obama administration in recent months following a falling out over his support for Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election.
Oren said on Friday that “Israel and the United States have always enjoyed a special relationship and, throughout these years of challenge, I was privileged to take part in forging even firmer bonds.”
He added: “I want to thank Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for affording me this extraordinary opportunity and to the communities which have hosted me so warmly across the United States. I look forward to continue serving the people of Israel in the future and further strengthening the historic US-Israel alliance.”