Israel’s Cabinet is expected to extend Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer’s tenure to a seventh year, after some pressure by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to countermand Israel’s Civil Service Commissioner.
The upcoming move, to be decided on next week, would override the Commissioner’s decision to reject Netanyahu’s request to keep Dermer in Washington for another year, a decision first reported by Israel’s Channel 12.
Dermer’s tenure consisted of a contentious relationship with the Obama administration, but a close one with the Trump White House.
Before being appointed in 2013, Dermer, who was born in Florida and moved to Israel in 1996, served as Netanyahu’s senior adviser.
Israel’s second round of elections will be held on Sept. 17, after Netanyahu was unable to form a coalition government following the April 7 national elections.