Ex-GOP Operative Named Next Israeli Ambassador
Just when it seemed to be fading away, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s reputation for meddling in American partisan politics got new attention this week with his decision to name as his ambassador in Washington a former Republican operative who promoted his bromance last year with Mitt Romney.
He picked his close confidante Ron Dermer to replace Amb. Michael Oren, who according to some reports, wanted to stay but was forced out by Dermer’s desire for the job. Oren, an American-born historian, has served four years and was considered popular and effective.
Dermer, who has a reputation as bright, brash and abrasive, likes to boast about his closeness to Netanyahu. He is "rumored to be the one responsible for news stories about Obama's snub of Netanyahu during his 2010 White House visit. And Obama administration officials believe he was behind Netanyahu’s perceived tilt toward Mitt Romney in last year’s presidential election," according to JTA.
His involvement in Republican politics goes back two decades to the 1994 Republican Revolution led by Newt Gingrich and his ties to the neo-conservative movement. He was closely associated with last year’s Romney campaign and Republican politics while working for Netanyahu, according to published reports.
http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/political-insider/ex-gop-operative-named-next-israeli-ambassador