New US ambassador to Israel pledges to oppose BDS

The new US ambassador to Israel has pledged to fight the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, support the Abraham Accords, strengthen bonds with the occupation state and replenish its Iron Dome missile defence system.

Thomas R Nides was confirmed in the role on Wednesday. He served as deputy US secretary of state for management and resources under Hillary Clinton from 2011 to 2013.

Nides was congratulated by Gilad Erdan, the Israeli Ambassador at the UN, who tweeted, “I’m sure that you will further strengthen the special bond between Israel and the US.”

According to the new ambassador, boosting Israel’s Iron Dome system is in America’s national interest. “This is a defensive mechanism,” he said. “It is to stop rockets from raining in on Israel.”

The Times of Israel said that Nides played a key role in the Obama administration’s approval of the extension of loan guarantees for Israel worth billions of dollars. He also helped carry out Obama’s policy against Congressional efforts to limit US support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine  refugees (UNWRA) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

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