Erdan to finish 4-year tenure as UN envoy, declines offer to stay in US as ambassador to Washington

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan has decided to wrap up his tenure in New York after four years, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announces.

Netanyahu offered Erdan the option of staying in the US and becoming Israel’s ambassador in Washington — a post he held for a year simultaneously with his role at the UN — but the former Likud minister declined, citing family considerations, the premier’s office says, noting that Erdan has two children who will be enlisting in the IDF in the coming year.

“Ambassador Erdan represented Israel with respect, determination and strength, and I thank him for that,” Netanyahu says in a statement.

Netanyahu has reportedly decided not to extend the tenure of Israel’s current ambassador to Washington Michael Herzog. President Isaac Herzog’s brother will be wrapping up his three-year tenure in November.

While ambassadors often have their stints extended an extra year, Netanyahu has chosen not to offer that courtesy to Herzog. The prime minister reportedly blamed Herzog for not doing enough to secure Netanyahu an invitation to the White House last year.