Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Israeli occupation has appointed Yahiel Leiter, a right-wing extremist and former member of the Kach movement, which was previously designated as a terrorist organization in the United States, as the new ambassador to Washington following Donald Trump’s presidential victory.
Leiter, who will replace Ambassador Michael Herzog, is one of Netanyahu’s close associates and formerly served as his chief of staff.
Leiter, an American citizen, resides in the Eli settlement, which is built on Palestinian lands north of Ramallah in the West Bank.
According to Haaretz, “Leiter is a far-right extremist and an enthusiastic supporter of the annexation of the West Bank and was previously active in the Jewish Defense League, associated with the Kach movement.” The newspaper also noted that his son was killed during combat in the Gaza War.
The paper highlighted that Netanyahu’s choice of Leiter for the ambassadorial position in Washington indicates Netanyahu’s intention to align with the settler movement in Israel ahead of Trump’s new term.
It is noteworthy that in May 2022, the U.S. Department of State removed the “Kahane Chai” or Kach movement from the terrorist list, which drew Palestinian criticism of the decision.
Kahane Chai Movement
The extremist Jewish movement “Kahane Chai” was founded by Meir Kahane in the late 1960s in the United States, but it began its political activity in occupied Palestine in 1971, when Kahane immigrated there with some of his followers.
The movement advocates for the expulsion of Palestinians from their lands and their relocation to Arab countries as part of what is known as the “Transfer Plan,” envisioning an Israel exclusively for Jews. It sees settlement expansion as non-negotiable.
The movement opposed the return of Sinai to Egypt and also opposes the return of the Golan to Syria and the Oslo Accords. It believes that Israel has the right to the land and sovereignty, and it should immediately assert its sovereignty over the land as it is essential for Israel’s security interests.
“Kahane Chai” believes that the redemption of the Jewish people will only be achieved through the annexation of the occupied territories, the removal of all foreign worship from the Temple Mount (referring to the Al-Aqsa Mosque), and the expulsion of all Jewish enemies from the land of Palestine.
