Israel’s friends welcome Erdan’s dual appointments

Jewish and pro-Israel groups reacted positively to Minister of Public Security, Strategic Affairs and Minister of Information Gilad Erdan’s appointment as the Jewish state’s next ambassador to the United States and the United Nations, succeeding Ron Dermer and Danny Danon, respectively.

Erdan (pictured) said he was “excited for the privilege of being able to fight on behalf of the righteousness of our path in the international arena, and to defend Israel in light of the challenges ahead.”

Erdan “is a committed public servant with deep connections to the American Jewish community,” said the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in a statement.

Zionist Organization of America national president Mort Klein told JNS that Erdan is “an inspired and brilliant choice.”

Klein said Erdan is a “smart, articulate Zionist who knows how to effectively present Israel’s case and defend Israel from all the propaganda lies against it.”

As strategic affairs minister, Erdan carved out a high-profile role in combating the BDS movement. Most notably Erdan’s ministry was behind a two-year campaign aimed at exposing connections between anti-Israel BDS groups and terrorist organizations.

Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET) founder and president Sarah Stern said Dermer was “one of Israel’s most sagacious and skilled ambassadors in Israel’s history.”

Reports have circulated for some time that Danon would be stepping down at U.N. ambassador. He was first appointed in 2015 for a three-year term and was extended multiple times.

Like Danon, Dermer has also been reported to be stepping down from his post as well. However, his tenure was also extended due to Israel’s political deadlock. Dermer has served as Israel’s envoy to the United States since 2013.

Erdan has served as a Likud Knesset member since first being elected in 2003; prior to that, he was an adviser to Netanyahu and former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The longtime Likud lawmaker has served in a variety of ministerial roles over the past decade-and-a-half.