Former political adviser to the Prime Minister Ron Dermer has been appointed Israel’s Ambassador to the United States.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said: "Ron Dermer has all the qualities necessary to successfully fill this important post. I have known him for many years and I know that Ron will faithfully represent the State of Israel in the capital of our greatest ally – the USA. On behalf of the citizens of Israel, I wish him great success."

American-born Mr Dermer will replace Michael Oren, who is due to complete his four-year term in office in the next few months.

Mr Oren said: "As a close friend and a long-time colleague of Ron's, I know that he is uniquely qualified for this position and is deeply committed to the historic US-Israel alliance."

Mr Dermer is an outspoken critic of the two-state solution and viewed with suspicion by the Obama administration for his Republican affiliations.