The New York Times quotes Nonresident Senior Fellow Richard LeBaron on Ron Dermer, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, and his role in attempting to bridge the gap between the United States and Israel:
Richard LeBaron, the former American ambassador to Kuwait and a former deputy chief of mission at the American Embassy in Tel Aviv, said the speech episode was a mistake that had rendered Mr. Dermer “damaged goods,” and “practically persona non grata among senior policy makers” in the United States government.
“It was poor judgment, and it was poor judgment affecting the relationship with the most important country that has a partnership with Israel,” said Mr. LeBaron, adding that as a former ambassador, he would expect to have been sent home for a similar infraction. “If he’s not gone within a month, it’s another indicator that Netanyahu is only out for political advantage and is not serious about repairing relations.”