Boehler pulls his nomination to serve as US presidential envoy for hostage affairs

Adam Boehler has withdrawn his nomination to serve as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, a senior US official tells The Times of Israel, clarifying that he will continue to manage the file, which deals with efforts to release Americans wrongfully detained or held captive worldwide, but from a lower-level position that does not require Senate confirmation.

The move comes amid anger in Israel over the unprecedented direct talks Boehler held with Hamas in recent weeks, aimed largely at securing the release of dual US-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander and four slain dual US-Israeli citizens held hostage in Gaza.

The talks were fully coordinated with US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff, but Israel was not fully informed ahead of time and has directed its ire at Boehler since learning about the meetings and leaking them to the press on March 4, the senior US official says.

Boehler sought to calm concerns in Israel during a series of interviews on Sunday, but his comments defending the talks and sometimes dismissing Israeli objections further enraged Jerusalem.

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer had been lobbying US officials to sideline Boehler from involvement on the Israel file, and Israeli frustrations have also been voiced to Senate Republicans, some of whom took Jerusalem’s side and voiced their own concerns to the White House, the senior US official says.

US President Donald Trump appointed Boehler to serve as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs back in January but his confirmation hearing had not yet been scheduled.

While Boehler considered withdrawing his nomination for several weeks, that decision was further solidified in recent days amid GOP pushback, which likely would have complicated his chances for Senate confirmation, the senior US official says.

Boehler will continue to deal with hostage affairs but only with the title of special government employee, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly tells The Times of Israel.

“Adam played a critical role in negotiating the return of Marc Fogel from Russia,” Kelly continues. “He will continue this important work to bring wrongfully detained individuals around the world home.”

“Adam Boehler is President Trump’s Special Envoy and will continue his work to bring all Americans home through a whole of government approach. President Trump is following through on his promise to Americans and Adam is committed to his agenda,” a second US official tells The Times of Israel.

Amid reports Thursday that Boehler had been sidelined, a senior US official told The Times of Israel that he would continue assisting the Mideast efforts of Witkoff, who has yet to publicly comment on Boehler’s status while also moving to advance the original negotiating track in which Egypt and Qatar serve as mediators between the US and Israel.