Resigning Ambassador Sallai Meridor
Photo: Alex Kolomoisky
Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu
Photo: Reuters
Meridor: Israel-US ties will remain firm
In Ynet interview, resigning envoy to Washington estimates relations with US will stay stable during Netanyahu era. 'It's in the State's best interest that the new government appoints its own person for this job,' he says of his decision to quit
WASHINGTON – Israeli Ambassador to the United States Sallai Meridor on Thursday evening explained his decision to quit
following the election results.
In a special interview, Meridor said, "This thought has been accompanying me since before the elections. I believe the ability to influence the core issues in the Israel-US relations depends to a great extent on the ambassador in Washington being selected by the government and having the trust of the prime minister and foreign minister.
"I have a contract until the end of October, but Israel's ambassador to Washington must have the trust of the government and the prime minister-designate and serve three years, not eight months, so I thought I had to end my term of office," Meridor told Ynet.
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"There are a lot of embassy missions which are not related to this, but the core of the work, the most sensitive and delicate issues, depends on relations of familiarity and trust, and therefore it's clear to me that that was what I viewed as essential when I was offered the job."
On Thursday, Meridor informed Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu of his decision to quit. The interview with him revealed that he enjoys his job and that the decision to end his term of office was not an easy one.
He said, however, that "it's in the State's best interest that the new government appoints its own representative for this job, who will best reflect the state of mind, thoughts and internal conflicts in Israel. This is the fundamental condition for this role."
In response to the expectations for a difficult phase in the relations between the Obama administration and the Netanyahu government, Ambassador Meridor noted that "the relations between the two countries are very firm and stable. They lean on deep ledges of values, of legacy.
"People in Israel are not always aware of how deep the attitude towards Israel is in the US. I doubt that there were ever such relations. We are facing the same threats of a nuclear Iran and the fear of nuclear technology reaching terror organizations. We share the aspiration for stability and peace and the effort to become free from the dependence on oil."
'It's a privilege to serve here'
Meridor believes that because of the new American administration and the new Israeli government his replacement must be appointed as soon as possible.
"New ties must be built. The State's interest requires the appointment of an ambassador for three-four years, who will be trusted in the full sense of the word by the prime minister and foreign minister," he said.
According to Meridor, he made the decision heavy-heartedly. "I feel that it's a great privilege to serve here, with the extraordinary relationship, with warmth and intimacy. There is no other place in the world that comes close to this, but the most important thing is what is best for the State."
Meridor said his decision to quit was shaped during his meetings in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, as well as with Livni and Netanyahu.
"I hope a replacement is appointed as quickly as possible. It's important that this happens as soon as possible, but I'm not throwing the stick. I continue working here as I did before, until the new ambassador arrives. I'll exert every effort in order to help him, share things with him and advise him for the sake of a smooth transit."
Meridor's meetings with Olmert, Livni and Netanyahu were held a day before US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Israel.
Asked about the dispute between Israel and US on the ongoing settlement construction, the resigning ambassador said that "there will always be matters Israel and the US will not see eye-to-eye. The American stance on the settlement issue is not new. When there is an intimate relationship between countries, they look for as many agreements as possible and are considerate of one another in a bid to deal with the problems."
