Israel’s envoy to the United Nations announced on Sunday that he would be resigning from his simultaneous post as ambassador to the United States, pending the appointment of a replacement.
“It was a true honor to represent Israel to our closest ally,” Erdan said on social media.
“I believe it is up to the current [Israeli] government to appoint an ambassador [who] will represent it politically with the [U.S.] administration. However, I will continue to defend Israel at the U.N. and fight for justice in the international arena,” he added.
His additional appointment as the country’s envoy to Washington went into effect in January 2021, replacing Ron Dermer, who had served in the role since 2013. The only other Israeli figure to have filled both ambassadorial roles at once was the late diplomat Abba Eban, who served as a dual envoy from 1950 until 1959.
Erdan hails from former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, which—following the formation of the new governing coalition—now leads the opposition in the Knesset.