Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer finishes up his tenure in Washington this week after 7 years.

I spoke to White House officials, Members of Congress, Hill staffers, Jewish community leaders and former Israeli officials who reflected on his time as envoy https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahus-envoy-dermer-departs-us-but-to-democrats-hes-been-gone-for-years/

There was near unanimous agreement that his close relationship to Netanyahu made him an effective ambassador, especially during the Trump era.

But to Democrats that bond proved to be a double-edged sword, particularly after Bibi's 2015 speech to Congress against the Iran deal...

...which Dermer helped orchestrate with Boehner behind Obama's back. Subsequently, Dems gained impression that Bibi/Dermer made a strategic shift away from reliance on bipartisan support & US-Jewish establishment, instead full-on embracing more reliable Republicans & evangelicals

"Dermer understood the trends in the American Jewish community that people were not going to buy into Netanyahu’s politics, so in order to continue selling them he looked elsewhere,” said a senior congressional aide for a moderate Democrat.

What seemed noteworthy during work for the profile was that even moderate or hawkish Dems who wouldn't be caught dead substantively criticizing Israel were in agreement with their more liberal colleagues that Dermer had turned away from them. Take the following quotes:

From a Dem operative: “You cannot overstate the impact the 2015 speech had. I still hear from members of the Black Caucus to this day who are sure that Netanyahu and Dermer would not have done that to a White president. While that is not true, if you’re a sensitive analyst...

... of American politics, you understand the kind of inferences that people can draw in these situations and work to prevent them,"

From a Dem House member: “There was a period of time during which I didn’t know which way I was going to vote on the JCPOA, but what I did know...

...was that if Ron Dermer called me one more time I’d vote in favor,” he said half-joking.

Senior Dem Hill staffer: “I don’t know of a single Democratic member of Congress who doesn’t now hold their nose when working with Ron Dermer.

Dem Rep: “We have no problem working with right-wing politicians in Israel as long as the cooperation is approached in a nonpartisan way. With Bibi & Dermer, it’s always partisan. In this context, when meetings are scheduled & there were still many they’re not taken as seriously"

The Israeli embassy was unapologetic for the envoy's embrace of Trump, asserting that it paid dividends for Israel & didn't come at expense of damaging the bipartisan nature of the US-Israel relationship.

Much more to say, but best to read the piece & decide for yourself. End.