The Director General of the ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eden Bar-Tal, has summoned the ambassador to Washington, Dr. Yechiel Leiter, for a meeting regarding statements he made during a recent interview. A ministry spokesperson stated that even though Mr. Leiter’s appointment is political, made by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli diplomat is generally expected to refrain from commenting on internal policy.

The decision to summon Ambassador Leiter follows an interview with PragerU, an American conservative media outlet, were Leiter accused opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of propagating accusations comparable to a “ritual crime.”

Accusations of Slander and Political Motivation

“Left extremists” and the Israeli media seek to overthrow the goverment,qualifying these attempts “slander” aiming the Prime Minister.

During the interview, yechiel Leiter accused “Left extremists” and the Israeli media of attempting to overthrow the government, characterizing these efforts as “slander” against the Prime Minister. He also stated that some critics accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war in Gaza to remain in power, an idea he described as “madness” and “malicious.”

Background of Ambassador Leiter

Yechiel Leiter, 65, a former advisor to Mr. Netanyahu, is of American origin and previously resided in a settlement in the occupied West Bank. His son, Moshe Leiter, an officer in the Israeli army, was killed in November 2023 in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli army has been engaged in conflict against Hamas since the October 7, 2023 attack.