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By Morton A. Klein
(MARCH 8, 2023 / JNS) U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides has persisted in interfering in Israel’s internal affairs, egregiously violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Affairs, which requires diplomats to “respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state” and “not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.” While collaborating on foreign matters of mutual interest (such as working together to counter Iran) would be welcome, interfering in Israel’s internal affairs is off limits.
Yet Nides regularly makes hostile demands and exerts pressure that harms Israel’s security and sovereignty. He does so on issues like Israel’s right to control her own borders and determine security protocols, Jews’ lawful right to build homes and judicial reform.
Nides’ interference includes undiplomatic nastiness and defamation. Nides called Jews who legally build homes in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria “stupid” and “infuriating” (during a webinar with radical BDS group Peace Now). He recently undiplomatically called Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich “stupid” and said, “If I could, I would throw [Smotrich] off the plane.” Nides also brags that his unlawful pressure stopped the essential E-1 building project.
In contrast to his derogatory treatment of Jews and Israel, Nides fails to make lawful public demands on or pressure the Palestinian Authority to end its heinous “pay-to-slay” payments to terrorists who murder Jews, glorification of Jew-killers and building of tens of thousands of illegal structures on Israeli land (reportedly with U.S. assistance).
Israeli diplomats do not tell the United States how to select American judges or where persons of a particular faith can build homes in America. Israel does not pressure America to allow terrorist entities to decide who can enter the U.S. Nides and other U.S. officials should show the same legally required respect towards Israel.
After Nides criticized Israel’s judicial reforms—another clearly internal matter—Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli appropriately stated: “To Ambassador Nides I say this pure and simple: Mind your own business. You’re not privy to discussions about judicial reform. We’d love to discuss foreign affairs with you if you wish. Respect our democracy.”
Nides then absurdly doubled down, saying: “I really think that most Israelis do not want America to stay out of their business.”
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