Latest news with #YechielLeiter
Arab News
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Israel's US ambassador called home over interview remarks
JERUSALEM: Israel's ambassador to Washington is being summoned home on the instructions of a government disciplinary body to discuss comments he made in a podcast interview, the foreign ministry said Sunday. Ambassador Yechiel Leiter had made an appearance on a podcast run by the right-wing US online media platform PragerU, in which he accused opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of levelling 'blood libels' at the Israeli leader. 'The Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eden Bar-Tal, will summon the ambassador in Washington, Dr. Yechiel Leiter, for a hearing regarding statements he made during a media interview,' a ministry spokesman said in a statement. The spokesman said the summons was 'in accordance with the instructions of the Discipline Department at the Civil Service Commission.' Although the role of Israeli ambassador to the United States is a political appointment and Leiter was selected by Netanyahu, Israeli diplomats are typically expected to refrain from making political statements. In the interview with PragerU, Leiter accused 'extremists on the left' and the Israeli media of trying to topple Netanyahu's government. 'It's the extremists, and there is nothing they won't do to bring Netanyahu down, and it's a calumny that needs to be called out,' he said, accusing Netanyahu's detractors of levelling 'blood libels against your own PM.' Leiter also dismissed as 'insanity' claims that the premier was prolonging the war in Gaza to remain in power, adding: 'How dare they say something as malicious as that?' A poll published by Israel's Channel 12 News on Saturday showed that 55 percent of the public believes Netanyahu is more interested in remaining in power than ending the war or freeing the hostages still held in Gaza. A former adviser to Netanyahu, Leiter is originally from the United States and lived in a settlement in the occupied West Bank. His son, Moshe Leiter, was killed in combat in November 2023 in the Gaza Strip.
Al Arabiya
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Israel's ambassador to US called home over interview remarks
Israel's ambassador to Washington is being summoned home on the instructions of a government disciplinary body to discuss comments he made in a podcast interview, the foreign ministry said Sunday. Ambassador Yechiel Leiter had made an appearance on a podcast run by the right-wing US online media platform PragerU, in which he accused opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of levelling 'blood libels' at the Israeli leader. 'The Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eden Bar-Tal, will summon the ambassador in Washington, Dr Yechiel Leiter, for a hearing regarding statements he made during a media interview,' a ministry spokesman said in a statement. The spokesman said the summons was 'in accordance with the instructions of the Discipline Department at the Civil Service Commission.' Although the role of Israeli ambassador to the United States is a political appointment and Leiter was selected by Netanyahu, Israeli diplomats are typically expected to refrain from making political statements. In the interview with PragerU, Leiter accused 'extremists on the left' and the Israeli media of trying to topple Netanyahu's government. 'It's the extremists, and there is nothing they won't do to bring Netanyahu down, and it's a calumny that needs to be called out,' he said, accusing Netanyahu's detractors of levelling 'blood libels against your own PM.' Leiter also dismissed as 'insanity' claims that the premier was prolonging the war in Gaza to remain in power, adding: 'How dare they say something as malicious as that?' A poll published by Israel's Channel 12 News on Saturday showed that 55 percent of the public believes Netanyahu is more interested in remaining in power than ending the war or freeing the hostages still held in Gaza. A former advisor to Netanyahu, Leiter is originally from the United States and lived in a settlement in the occupied West Bank. His son, Moshe Leiter, was killed in combat in November 2023 in the Gaza Strip.
Asharq Al-Awsat
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Israel's US Ambassador Called Home Over Interview Remarks
Israel's ambassador to Washington is being summoned home on the instructions of a government disciplinary body to discuss comments he made in a podcast interview, the foreign ministry said Sunday. Ambassador Yechiel Leiter had made an appearance on a podcast run by the right-wing US online media platform PragerU, in which he accused opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of levelling "blood libels" at the Israeli leader. "The Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eden Bar-Tal, will summon the ambassador in Washington, Dr. Yechiel Leiter, for a hearing regarding statements he made during a media interview," a ministry spokesman said in a statement, according to AFP. The spokesman said the summons was "in accordance with the instructions of the Discipline Department at the Civil Service Commission". Although the role of Israeli ambassador to the United States is a political appointment and Leiter was selected by Netanyahu, Israeli diplomats are typically expected to refrain from making political statements. In the interview with PragerU, Leiter accused "extremists on the left" and the Israeli media of trying to topple Netanyahu's government. "It's the extremists, and there is nothing they won't do to bring Netanyahu down, and it's a calumny that needs to be called out," he said, accusing Netanyahu's detractors of levelling "blood libels against your own PM". Leiter also dismissed as "insanity" claims that the premier was prolonging the war in Gaza to remain in power, adding: "How dare they say something as malicious as that?" A poll published by Israel's Channel 12 News on Saturday showed that 55 percent of the public believes Netanyahu is more interested in remaining in power than ending the war or freeing the hostages still held in Gaza. A former adviser to Netanyahu, Leiter is originally from the United States and lived in a settlement in the occupied West Bank. His son, Moshe Leiter, was killed in combat in November 2023 in the Gaza Strip.
India.com
24-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Big boost for Israel amid ongoing Gaza conflict with Hamas, its two neighbours may join Abraham Accords, they are..., how will it...
Tel Aviv: There is good news for Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Israel's two neighbours may restore relations with it. This information has been provided by Israel's ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter. In an interview with a media house on Thursday, May 22, Leiter stated that he believes Syria and Lebanon could now join the Abraham Accords. Importantly, both these countries could normalize relations with Israel before Saudi Arabia. This information comes at a time when protests against Israel are increasing in Western countries over the attacks in Gaza. Israel's relations with Syria and Lebanon have been strained, and it has fought wars with both of these countries in the past. On the changed equations in Syria and Lebanon Leiter said, 'There is now no reason why we should not come to an agreement with Syria and Lebanon. We have dramatically changed the paradigm there. I am very excited about the possibility of an Abraham agreement with Syria and Lebanon, and it can actually happen before with Saudi Arabia.' Leiter also mentioned that Saudi Arabia was considering joining the agreement in 2019. He said, they were not far off. If President Trump had remained in office after 2020, we would have reached the point of full normalization with Saudi Arabia. The Israeli diplomat stated that Israel and Saudi Arabia are still on the path to normalization. However, the Gaza war still presents complexities in normalization. Regarding the possibility of normalizing relations with Lebanon, Leiter said that Lebanon has the opportunity to emerge from its failed state status and establish itself as a civil society. About Syria, he stated that the U.S. should wait to see what actions Syria takes, expressing concern about the protection of minorities such as Druze and Alawites in the country and the need for attention in this regard.
Yomiuri Shimbun
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Court Papers Say Suspect in Embassy Killings Declared, ‘I Did It for Palestine, I Did It for Gaza'
The Associated Press Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter talks with reporters Thursday, May 22, 2025, after two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night, in Washington. WASHINGTON (AP) — The man accused of fatally shooting two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington outside a Jewish museum told police after his arrest, 'I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,' federal authorities said Thursday in announcing charges in the killings they called a targeted act of terrorism. Elias Rodriguez, 31, shouted 'Free Palestine' as he was led away after his arrest, according to charging documents that provided chilling new details of the Wednesday night shootings in the nation's capital that killed an American woman and an Israeli man who had just left an event at the museum. They were set to become engaged. The stunning attack prompted Israeli missions to beef up their security and lower their flags to half-staff. It came as Israel pursues another major offensive in the Gaza Strip in the war with Hamas that has heightened tensions across the Middle East and internationally, and that law enforcement officials have repeatedly warned could inspire violence in the U.S. Rodriguez faces charges of murder of foreign officials and other crimes and did not enter a plea during a perfunctory court appearance. Additional charges are likely, prosecutors said, as authorities continue to investigate the killings as both a hate crime against the Jewish community and terrorism. 'Violence against anyone based on their religion is an act of cowardice. It is not an act of a hero,' said Jeanine Pirro, the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. 'Antisemitism will not be tolerated, especially in the nation's capital.' The couple planned to become engaged The two people killed were identified as Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and Sarah Milgrim, an American. They were a young couple about to be engaged, according to Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Those who knew them paid tribute to the pair Thursday as warm, vibrant and curious, dedicated to promoting peace and aspiring to bridge cultural and religious divides. 'Sarah and Yaron were stolen from us,' said Ted Deutch, the chief executive of the American Jewish Committee, which organized the event. 'Moments before they were murdered, they were smiling, laughing and enjoying an event with colleagues and friends. We are in shock and heartbroken as we attempt to process this immense tragedy.' An FBI affidavit made public Thursday presents the killing as calculated and planned, with authorities alleging that Rodriguez flew to the Washington region from Chicago on Tuesday with a handgun in his checked luggage. He purchased a ticket for the event about three hours before it started, the affidavit said. The couple were leaving the Capital Jewish Museum when the suspect, who witnesses said had been behaving suspiciously by pacing outside, approached a group of four people and opened fire. Surveillance video showed Rodriguez advancing closer to the two victims as they fell to the ground, leaning over them and firing additional shots. He even appeared to reload before jogging off, the FBI said. Affidavit says suspect declared that he 'did it' After the shooting, the suspect went inside the museum and stated that he 'did it.' He was no longer armed by the time he was taken into custody, according to the affidavit. 'I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed,' he spontaneously said. He also told detectives that he admired an active-duty Air Force member who set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in February 2024, describing the man as 'courageous' and a 'martyr,' court documents said. Investigators said they were still working to corroborate the authenticity of writings purported to be authored by Rodriguez, an apparent reference to a document circulating online that expressed outrage over Israel's conduct in the war. The FBI is also contacting associates, family members and co-workers. Rodriguez appeared in federal court in Washington in a white jail suit and listened impassively as the charges and possible punishments, which include the death penalty, were read. At a home listed in public records for Rodriguez's mother in suburban Chicago, a sign taped on the door Thursday afternoon asked for privacy. The shooting followed the Jewish advocacy group's annual Young Diplomats reception at the museum, which the couple had attended. Yoni Kalin and Katie Kalisher were inside the museum when they heard gunshots, and a man came inside looking distressed. Kalin said people came to his aid and brought him water, thinking he needed help, without realizing he was the suspect. When police arrived, he pulled out a red kaffiyeh, the Palestinian headscarf, and repeatedly yelled, 'Free Palestine,'' Kalin said. 'This event was about humanitarian aid,' Kalin said. 'How can we actually help both the people in Gaza and the people in Israel? How can we bring together Muslims and Jews and Christians to work together to actually help innocent people? And then here he is just murdering two people in cold blood.' Victims praised for their commitments and compassion Milgrim, from Overland Park, Kansas, was 'warm and compassionate, committed to peace building and passionate about sustainability and people-to-people relations,' Deutch said. A former youth director at Congregation Beth Torah recalled her as a brilliant girl with a perpetual smile and a sense of purpose. 'She had a passion for Judaism and for Israel, and she wanted to do some good,' said Marcia Rittmaster, the former youth director. She recommended Milgrim for a Jewish leadership internship upon the young woman's graduation from high school. Lischinsky grew up partly in the German city of Nuremberg and moved to Israel at 16. 'He was a Christian, a true lover of Israel, served in the (Israel Defense Forces), and chose to dedicate his life to the State of Israel and the Zionist cause,' said Ron Prosor, who taught Lischinsky at Israel's Reichman University. Lischinsky earned a master's degree in government, diplomacy and strategy there. 'He embodied the Judeo-Christian values and set an example for young people worldwide.' A friend, David Boskey, recalled Lischinsky as someone unafraid to broach hard questions in order to interrogate his own convictions. He met Lischinsky in 2017 in Jerusalem at a Messianic Jewish congregation, where they would often end up talking together about life and faith, Boskey said. 'He was looking to see where he was going to go in life, asking questions about calling and about identity and about what he was going to study, where he was going to work,' Boskey said. On Instagram, his bio included a yellow ribbon symbolizing the struggle to free the hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that ignited the war in the Gaza Strip.
