US ambassador to Israel to step down this summer

Tom Nides informed embassy staff of decision on Tuesday

As US ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides has worked with three different Israeli prime ministers. Reuters

US ambassador to Israel Tom Nides will leave his post this summer, the US State Department confirmed on Tuesday.

In less than two years in the role, Mr Nides worked with three different Israeli prime ministers and navigated the complex political and cultural currents in the country.

“Tom Nides has worked with energy, passion and skill to further strengthen the unique bond between the United States and Israel, and to advance US diplomatic, economic and security interests,” said a State Department representative.

Mr Nides was widely respected in both Washington and Israel.

“He was effective for a few reasons,” said David Makovsky, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

“He clearly had top political cover at the White House and that enabled him to be listened to because any country wants an ambassador who has those connections.”

News of Mr Nides's departure was first reported by news website Axios, which said he was leaving to spend more time with his family.

During the ambassador's tenure in Israel, he the rise of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right government and its push for judicial reforms that have led to months of nationwide protests.

In February, Mr Nides told David Axelrod on his podcast The Axe Files with David Axelrod that US President Joe Biden's administration wanted Mr Netanyahu to “pump the brakes” on the judicial reforms.

The comments sparked condemnation in Israel and led to frostier relations between the two administrations.

Mr Makvosky said the ambassador's remarks were in line with his “unvarnished” approach.

“He was both bright and visceral and therefore, I think no one thought he pulled his punches at all,” he said.

Throughout his career, Mr Nides has straddled the public and private worlds, most recently serving as the managing director and vice chairman of Morgan Stanley.

From 2010 to 2013, he served as deputy secretary of state for management and resources.

The Minnesota native is also the recipient of the State Department’s Distinguished Service Award.

While in Israel, he frequently posted videos that showed the lighter side of international diplomacy, including one video in which he baked hamantaschen, a popular pastry, for the Jewish holiday of Purim.