BICOM

US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, is to leave her job at the end of the year, President Donald Trump announced in the Oval Office yesterday morning.

Haley didn’t offer any specific reason for her departure, in her resignation letter she said that she is “a strong supporter of term limits,” believing that rotation in office benefits the public. Haley has served in public office for 14 consecutive years, including time as UN ambassador and Governor of South Carolina.

At a joint press conference with President Trump, Haley listed what she saw as the Trump administration’s foreign-policy successes: pressuring North Korea, an arms embargo on South Sudan, standing up for Israel by rolling back “the UN’s relentless bias against her,” and a drive to slash UN budgets and reform its institutions. She said that her departure did not mean she will run for the Presidency in 2020, instead saying that she plans to return to the private sector and campaign for the President in the next election.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted: “Thank you Amb. Haley for standing for the truth and exposing hypocrisy at the UN. Just as the people of Israel are grateful for the rock solid support Trump has provided Israel in the Oval Office, we are grateful for the rock solid support you’ve provided Israel at the UN.”

UK Ambassador to the UN Karen Pierce tweeted that Haley “has been and continues to be an outstanding Ambassador & great colleague … led [the UN] on several important issues, including North Korea & responding to chemical weapons use in Syria & Salisbury”.

President Trump said Haley has been “very special to him, they hate to lose her, and the two will be in constant touch.” Trump added that hopefully Haley will come back to his administration, saying, “You can have your pick [of jobs].” Trump will name her replacement within three weeks.

Writing in Haaretz, Chemi Shalev said: “For the government of Israel and for many Israelis, Haley was simply the best ambassador ever, American or Israeli … she was Netanyahu’s best answer to accusations that he is gambling on Israel’s future by pitching in with an unstable and deeply unpopular President.”