As his own writing illustrates, clear-headed and bold advocacy that isn’t afraid to speak truth to power serves Israel far better than apologetic efforts that don’t address the real problems.
Dermer won’t be as confrontational with Obama and Kerry as he was with The New York Times, but that incident as well as his body of work shows he understands Israel’s problems in dealing with the world far better than the overwhelming majority of those who work for his country’s Foreign Ministry.
In contrast to many of the charming and utterly ineffective persons who have represented Israel abroad, Dermer gets it when it comes to dealing with attacks on his country and the justice of his cause. His eloquent advocacy for Israel’s rights may upset some who see Israel as always in the wrong, but it’s doubtful Netanyahu could have made a better choice for this important position.