Gantz will be able to replace Netanyahu-tied envoy to US once he becomes PM

Interestingly, the coalition agreement states that Gantz can appoint his own ambassador to the United States as soon as he enters the Prime Minister’s Office in October 2021. Currently, the important post is held by Ron Dermer, one of Netanyahu’s closest confidants.

But critics consider Dermer, who has close ties to the administration of President Donald Trump, as a partisan supporter of the Republican party, which may have also contributed to Blue and White insisted they can replace him.

At the same time, the deal stipulates that Israel’s envoys to the UK, France, Australia and to the United Nations in New York will be appointed by Netanyahu for the entire time of the unity government’s existence “and cannot be replaced after the rotation agreement was implemented.”

Netanyahu is thus likely to offer ambassadorships in these attractive posts to some disgruntled Likud heavyweights who were not appointed ministers.

— Raphael Ahren