The new US ambassador to Israel, Thomas Nides, announced that he will not use the traditional home of his country's ambassadors in Herzliya and will move to a house in West Jerusalem.
Diplomatic sources in Tel Aviv said that the US State Department envoys have tried for six months to find a suitable house that suits the security needs, delaying Nides' move to Israel.
Nides may rent or buy the house of the Belgian consul in West Jerusalem, between the residences of the Prime Minister and the President.
Nides announced on Twitter that landing in Israel to be "US Ambassador is another moment I'll never forget."
"I'll spend my first couple days in quarantine, following the latest COVID guidelines. My thanks to the dedicated medical staff at Ben Gurion working to keep us all safe. I'm eagerly awaiting a negative test result so I can begin to meet many of you soon!"
The US embassy in Tel Aviv described Nides as having a distinguished record as a leader, extensive experience in government as both a policymaker and administrator and a wide-ranging engagement in the public and private sectors domestically and internationally, noting that he is a well-qualified candidate to be the ambassador.
Born in 1961 to a Jewish family in Duluth, Minnesota, Nides is a banking executive and was the managing director and vice-chairman of Morgan Stanley and has served in multiple financial institutions, including Credit Suisse and Burson-Marsteller.
From 2011 to 2013, he served as deputy secretary for management and resources under former US president Barack Obama. He has also served in several other government positions.
Nides replaces former Ambassador David Friedman, who led the transition from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which he chose as the headquarters for the consulate.
