As President Biden’s presidency takes form and shape, many Americans are thrilled with the new presidential cabinet assembled. One appointment, however, has prompted criticism and controversy from around the world– the nomination of former U.S. ambassador to Israel, Daniel Kurtzer.
Kurtzer’s nomination has raised concerns among many foreign policy experts because of his past statements and actions. Kurtzer is a veteran of U.S.-Israel relations, having served as ambassador from 2001 to 2005. But since then, Kurtzer has been vocal in his criticism of Israeli policy and has taken positions that many see as being pro-Palestinian.
Kurtzer has spoken out in favor of Palestinian rights in many forums, most notably in his 2009 book The Peace Puzzle: America’s Quest for Arab-Israeli Peace. He has also stated that he believes that the status quo in Israel-Palestine is untenable and that it is time for the United States to take a more active role in bringing a peaceful solution there.
He has also been vocal in his opposition to some of the policies enacted by the current right-wing Israeli government, most notably settlement expansion in the West Bank. At a 2017 conference, Kurtzer said that settlement expansion should be a “red line” that the United States should not cross. He has also spoken out against the banning of pro-Palestinian activists from Israel and has expressed support for the two-state solution.
Kurtzer’s nomination has been met with criticism from some members of the Israeli government and has sparked an uproar amongst many Israeli-American groups who feel that President Biden should have chosen someone more “pro-Israel” for the role. However, many foreign policy experts believe that Kurtzer’s willingness to challenge Israeli policy could be beneficial in helping to bring about peace in the region.
It is clear that the nomination of Daniel Kurtzer for ambassador to Israel has been a polarizing decision and raises many questions about the Biden administrations foreign policy approach to the Middle East. Regardless of who you believe is correct in this debate, one thing is certain– only time will tell how successful Kurtzer is in his post.