Why the outcry at the interview that Israel's ambassador to the United States gave recently to PragerU, a conservative website, and which had him summoned home for a hearing? After all, as a political appointment, isn't Rabbi Dr. Yechiel Leiter expected to support the prime minister, to defend him? Yes and no.
While I would prefer the ambassador in Washington to be a career diplomat, given the complexity of Israel's relations with the United States, it is legitimate for the leadership to choose otherwise. Most of Leiter's predecessors at the helm of Israel's most important diplomatic mission were external appointments. Among them were former senior defense officials, like Leiter's predecessor Michael Herzog, or political players like Moshe Arens, chairman of the Knesset Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee (who appointed an articulate young Benjamin Netanyahu as his deputy, and the rest is history).
It must be said: a diplomat represents the entire country, not parts thereof. Therefore, in order to represent changing governments credibly, a career diplomat does not share personal opinions. At the same time, in a delicate balancing game, a political appointment is a civil servant who represents the entire country. From the moment Leiter handed to President Donald Trump his Letter of Credence (signed by his counterpart Herzog and not by a politician like the prime minister or the foreign minister), he must for example provide services to opposition delegations. His opinions are known, but he must respect others' positions, including those held by the majority of Israelis who, according to polls, believe that political considerations determine decisions about the war.
Naturally, Leiter should try to persuade his interlocutors that the prime minister's motives are pure. But while defending him, he resorted to unacceptable language toward critics, including accusing them of blood libels, malevolence, insanity and calumny. In badmouthing those who do not toe the prime minister's line, he displayed a lack of understanding both about the principles of democracy and about the role of a diplomat.
What is the role of a diplomat? Because no two countries are identical, it varies by postings and can be summarized as "promoting one's country's interests". A wise diplomat initiates contacts with many sectors, tries to locate partners, attempts to bridge gaps. He not only speaks but also listens, in order to understand the posting and thus recommend how to act and what is best avoided. For that, it is essential to leave one's comfort zone and engage in difficult encounters. I therefore hope that my impression that Leiter is barely felt, except among supporters, is wrong.
Like Leiter, Dani Dayan who was Israel's Consul-General in New York, is a resident and ideologue of settlements. Nevertheless, he constantly reached out to non-Orthodox Jews and to all sectors of the American public. Gilad Erdan and Danny Danon, Likud politicians who became ambassadors, did not express themselves this on internal Israeli matters. It is doubtful that they would have said, as Leiter did, that the idea behind Netanyahu's "crumbling" trial was to tire him until he breaks. In his ignorance, Leiter mentioned the submarines bought from Germany as one of the subjects of the trial. And he undermined his own credibility by insisting, contrary to evidence, that Netanyahu's preferred gift is a book.
In languages familiar to me, the word "diplomat" is borrowed from the profession to describe an individual who knows how to handle difficult situations with grace. It is not always easy.
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When I was ambassador to South Africa at the turn of the millennium, Cyril Kern, a local businessman who had served in Israel's War of Independence with Ariel Sharon, was suspected of having been an illegal conduit for money to the Sharon family. Responding to criminal suspicions about my prime minister was awkward.
Tova HerzlIn that case, it was not difficult to guard the integrity of my country and of its institutions without undermining the prime minister's dignity. I responded that I am proud to represent a country where the prime minister is not above the law. However, when caught unawares, the appropriate answer is not always readily available. For me, "why didn't I say…" or " I should have thought of…" were frequent.
But the questions in that interview were hardly surprising. Leiter, a clever man, should have known better, done better.
- Tova Herzl is a former Israeli ambassador to South Africa and the Baltic countries, and served as liaison between the U.S. Congress at the Israeli Embassy in Washington.