Political career[edit] Dermer worked as a political consultant for Natan Sharansky in the 1999 campaign, and from January 2001 for nearly three years he wrote a column "The Numbers Game" for The Jerusalem Post.[2] In 2004, he and Sharansky co-wrote the best-selling book The Case For Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror, famously endorsed by then US-President George W. Bush.[8] In 2005, while Benjamin Netanyahu served as Finance Minister under Ariel Sharon, Dermer was appointed economic envoy at the Israeli embassy in Washington, a post for which he had to give up his American citizenship.[2] In 2008, after his return to Israel, he became adviser to Netanyahu, who became Israel's prime minister in April 2009.[9] Dermer is considered Netanyahu's closest adviser and strategic consultant. According to The Jerusalem Post, he "runs much of the interference with the White House, and is intimately involved in the diplomatic process with the Palestinians, [... and] writes many of Netanyahus speeches".[10]
Israeli newspaper Makor Rishon reported on December 28, 2012 that Dermer's name was being floated as a potential replacement for Michael Oren, Israel's Ambassador to the United States. The Prime Minister's Office declined to comment on the report and the Embassy of Israel in Washington spokesman called the report "baseless."[11] In March 2013, Dermer left the Prime Minister's Office after four years as Netanyahu's senior adviser.[1] On July 9, 2013 the Prime Minister's office announced that Dermer would replace Oren as Israel's ambassador to the United States.[12] According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, Oren, who wanted to keep his job, was removed because Dermer wanted the envoy post.[13]
Regional observers and Washington political analyst see Dermer's appointment as a "mixed bag" for U.S.Israel relations. According to Ari Shavit, Dermer is one of the few people Prime Minister Netanyahu trusts enough for the job, and Dermer's understanding of the American political system gives Netanyahu a way to navigate through Washington tactfully. On the other hand, Barak Ravid said, Dermer is suspected by key White House aides Denis McDonough and Ben Rhodes of lobbying members of Congress against President Barack Obama's positions.[3]
In January 2015 the Israeli Civil Service Commission censured Dermer for taking part in political campaigning for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in violation of Civil Service rules.[14] The U. S. Administration took the unusual step of sharply criticizing the ambassador, after he played a key role in having Benjamin Netanyahu invited, apparently without White House knowledge, to address Congress on Iran, in what the Administration regards as a breach of protocol. A spokesman said that the ambassador repeatedly put Netanyahus political interests before those of the relationship between Israel and the United States.[15]
In 2002 he married Baltimore-born Rhoda Pagano, who had been a clerk for Israel's top judge. They have five children and live in Jerusalem.[16]
Well that explains why they hate him...