Ron Dermer, one of Benjamin Netanyahu's most trusted ministers, has stepped down from his role as Israel's strategic affairs minister following weeks of intense speculation within Israeli media circles.
Departure of a Key Netanyahu Ally
The US-born diplomat, who served as Israel's ambassador to Washington before his ministerial appointment in 2022, confirmed his resignation in a formal letter. Dermer cited a pre-existing promise to his family that he would not serve in government for more than two years.
Dermer led the complex negotiations that culminated in last month's US-brokered Gaza ceasefire agreement, positioning him as one of the most influential figures within Israel's rightwing government throughout the conflict period.
Political Fallout and Controversy
The minister's departure occurs amid growing political tensions in Israel, with critics accusing the 54-year-old of contributing to the prolonged duration of the Gaza conflict. Some opposition figures have suggested that Dermer assisted Netanyahu in extending the war to avoid the prime minister facing potential corruption charges if removed from office.
In his resignation statement, Dermer praised Netanyahu's singular leadership and defended the government's actions, stating: We rejected moral equivocation and fear to confront our enemies with clarity and courage. He added that Israel had dealt a devastating blow to Iran's terror axis through its military campaign.
International Dimensions and Domestic Pressure
The political drama intensified on Wednesday when Israeli President Isaac Herzog received a remarkable letter from Donald Trump urging consideration of a pardon for Netanyahu. The US president described the corruption case against Netanyahu as a political, unjustified prosecution.
Meanwhile, domestic pressure continues to mount for an official inquiry into the security failures that enabled Hamas's October 7th, 2023 attack, which killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in 250 hostages being taken. The subsequent Israeli military offensive in Gaza claimed nearly 69,000 lives, predominantly civilians.
Netanyahu has resisted opposition calls to establish a powerful state inquiry, suggesting alternative formats would be more appropriate. With elections required within the next year, and speculation about early polls growing, Dermer's resignation marks another significant development in Israel's volatile political landscape.
