Former Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer in Washington, in 2023. (Credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Ron Dermer, former Israeli minister of strategic affairs, to handle the Lebanese dossier.Known as the voice in Benjamin Netanyahu’s ear, “Bibi’s brain,” and the “strategic translator” between Tel Aviv and Washington, Dermer was appointed a day after Lebanon proposed direct negotiations with Israel.While the latter rejected diplomatic initiatives for now, assigning the file to one of Netanyahu’s closest advisers signals the possibility of Israel’s position wavering under certain conditions.Though not a formal member of the war cabinet, Dermer is widely seen as Netanyahu’s most trusted confidant. “He is a strategist, aligned with Netanyahu’s ‘domination’ approach. He is known for his ability to soften controversial positions without changing their substance,” said Hassan Mneimneh of the...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Ron Dermer, former Israeli minister of strategic affairs, to handle the Lebanese dossier.Known as the voice in Benjamin Netanyahu’s ear, “Bibi’s brain,” and the “strategic translator” between Tel Aviv and Washington, Dermer was appointed a day after Lebanon proposed direct negotiations with Israel.While the latter rejected diplomatic initiatives for now, assigning the file to one of Netanyahu’s closest advisers signals the possibility of Israel’s position wavering under certain conditions.Though not a formal member of the war cabinet, Dermer is widely seen as Netanyahu’s most trusted confidant. “He is a strategist, aligned with Netanyahu’s ‘domination’ approach. He is known for his ability to soften controversial positions without changing their substance,”...
