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Ron Dermer

(1971 - )

ron dermer

Ron Dermer is an Israeli political consultant who served as Israel’s ambassador to the United States.

Dermer, born in Miami Beach, Florida, attended a Jewish day school in the area and earned his B.A. in Finance and Management from the University of Pennsylvania in 1993. He later graduated from Oxford University with a master’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

In 1996, Dermer moved to Israel and became an Israeli citizen. In August 1998, he married Israeli artist Adi Blumberg, who died tragically in 2000.

During Israels 1999 election, Dermer worked as a political consultant with Natan Sharansky. In 2004, he helped the famous refusenik and author co-write the best-selling book, The Case for Democracy.

In 2005, Dermer was appointed by Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to serve as Israel’s economic envoy to the United States, a position requiring him to forfeit his American citizenship. After returning to Israel in 2008, Dermer became a close political adviser to Netanyahu, who was elected prime minister in 2009. In March 2013, Dermer left Netanyahu’s office after four years.

On July 9, 2013, Netanyahu announced that Dermer would succeed Michael Oren as Israel’s U.S. ambassador. On December 3, 2013, Dermer officially presented his credentials to U.S. President Barack Obama. He wrote in the official White House guestbook:

I feel proud and honored to serve as Israel’s ambassador to the United States. America is a country to which the Jewish people owe so much and to which I, as a son of America, am so personally indebted. I look forward to working with you and your administration to make the bonds between Israel and America stronger than ever.

In March 2017, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet approved an extension of Dermer’s term for an additional year, citing the need for continuity as the Trump administration settled into Washington. Although he hoped to return to Israel, Netanyahu’s cabinet approved another year-long extension of Dermer’s term in June 2018.  He remained in that position until 2021.

He was appointed Minister for Strategic Affairs in the 37th government following the 2022 election.

Dermer is married to Rhoda Pagano, and they have five children.


Sources: Wikipedia.
Scoop: Netanyahu to extend Ambassador Ron Dermer's term in D.C., Axios, (June 20, 2018).
Lazar BermanNew envoy Ron Dermer presents credentials to Obama, Times of Israel (December 4, 2013).


Photo courtesy of Twitter/Amb. Ron Dermer.