The United States ambassador to Israel is the official representative of the president of the United States to the
head of state
A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...
of
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
.
Until 1948 the area that is now the state of Israel had been under British administration as part of the League of Nations/United Nations
British Mandate for Palestine. On May 14, 1948, the British government unilaterally terminated the mandate. On the same day, the
Jewish Agency
The Jewish Agency for Israel ( he, הסוכנות היהודית לארץ ישראל, translit=HaSochnut HaYehudit L'Eretz Yisra'el) formerly known as The Jewish Agency for Palestine, is the largest Jewish non-profit organization in the world. ...
, under future Prime Minister
David Ben-Gurion
David Ben-Gurion ( ; he, דָּוִד בֶּן-גּוּרִיּוֹן ; born David Grün; 16 October 1886 – 1 December 1973) was the primary national founder of the State of Israel and the first prime minister of Israel. Adopting the nam ...
, declared independence and named the country Israel. The United States immediately
recognized the nation and moved to establish
diplomatic relations
Diplomacy comprises spoken or written communication by representatives of states (such as leaders and diplomats) intended to influence events in the international system.Ronald Peter Barston, ''Modern diplomacy'', Pearson Education, 2006, p. 1 ...
. The first U.S. ambassador commissioned to Israel was
James Grover McDonald
James Grover McDonald (November 29, 1886 – September 25, 1964) was a United States diplomat. He served as the first U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
Early life
McDonald was born in Coldwater, Ohio, on November 29, 1886. His parents operated a h ...
, who
presented his credentials to the government of Israel on March 28, 1949.
The ambassador holds the title ''Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary''.
The
embassy of the United States in Israel
The Embassy of the United States of America in Jerusalem is the diplomatic mission of the United States, United States of America to the Israel, State of Israel, located in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem. In mid-October 2018, the United S ...
is located at 14 David Flusser Street in
Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
.
Ambassadors and chiefs of mission
List source:
Notes
See also
*
Embassy of the United States, Jerusalem
The Embassy of the United States of America in Jerusalem is the diplomatic mission of the United States of America to the State of Israel, located in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem. In mid-October 2018, the United States Secretary of Stat ...
*
Israel - United States relations
*
Foreign relations of Israel
Foreign relations of Israel refers to diplomatic and trade relations between Israel and other countries around the world. Israel has diplomatic ties .
*
Ambassadors of the United States
Ambassadors of the United States are persons nominated by the president to serve as the country's diplomatic representatives to foreign nations, international organizations, and as ambassadors-at-large. Under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S ...
References
United States Department of State: Background notes on Israel*
External links
United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for IsraelUnited States Department of State: IsraelUnited States Embassy in Jerusalem
{{Ambassadors of the United States
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...