Mike Herzog, president’s brother, is frontrunner for next envoy to US

The leading candidate to serve as Israel’s next ambassador to the US is Brigadier General (Ret.) Mike Herzog, President Isaac Herzog’s older brother. Sources in the government confirmed his candidacy to The Times of Israel although no final decision has been made. The Jerusalem Post reported on Herzog’s candidacy earlier today.

Herzog began his military service as an infantry fighter in the Yom Kippur War. He then joined the IDF Intelligence Corps and served there as head of the strategic division in the Planning Division, later becoming military secretary to defense minister Shaul Mofaz and chief of staff to former prime minister Ehud Barak.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid have decided the  the appointment of the ambassador to Washington would be made by both of them, with the two government leaders aiming to elect one diplomat to serve four consecutive years and not be replaced after two years with the rotation of the premiership. It should be noted that if they do not reach an agreement, each of them will choose an ambassador during their tenure as prime minister under the power-sharing agreement.