On January 27, 2025 Ambassador Leiter officially assumed his role as Israel’s Ambassador to Washington. 

Leiter replaced Michael (Mike) Herzog, who served in the position for approximately three years.

 

Leiter is a public figure with extensive experience in policy-making and strategic consulting. Among his prominent roles, he served as an advisor to the late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Chief of Staff to then-Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2004–2005), Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Education (2001–2004), and Acting Chairman of the Israel Ports Company.

Dr. Leiter holds a bachelor's degree in Law and Political Science, a master’s degree in International Relations from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a Ph.D. in Political Philosophy from the University of Haifa. His post-doctoral research on the philosophy of John Locke was published by Cambridge University Press.

 

Throughout his career, he has managed international projects, collaborated with Jewish and Christian communities around the world, and led strategic initiatives to strengthen Israel’s position on the global stage.

 

“The relationship between Israel and the United States is built on shared values and interests, as well as on broad cooperation that has endured for decades. I am determined to continue strengthening this unique bond, to deepen the strategic partnership, to promote stability in the Middle East, and to enhance the security and prosperity of the people of Israel,” said Ambassador Leiter. He added:
“I carry with me the pain of the families who lost their loved ones in the renewed War of Independence that was forced upon us, but I also bring with me the resilience of the people of Israel, determined to win the war against evil: to defeat Hamas, bring our hostages home, and never allow Iran’s proxies to threaten our borders.”

 

Ambassador Leiter expressed his appreciation to Prime Minister Netanyahu for the trust he placed in him.

“The Prime Minister has steered our national ship through the stormiest of seas and is now leading us to safe harbor. It is an honor for me to represent him and the people of Israel at this critical moment in our national history.”

 

The ambassador also addressed cooperation with the Trump administration, stating:

“There is no doubt that a true friend of Israel and the Jewish people has returned to the White House. Together with the Trump administration, we will work to strengthen security and stability and to formulate an effective regional strategy against the Iranian threat.”

 

Ambassador Leiter also emphasized the importance of bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship:

“Bipartisan support for Israel is a foundational element of our relationship with the United States, and I intend to work with both Republicans and Democrats to keep Israel a unifying issue that transcends party lines.”

 

Ambassador Leiter is a father of eight and a grandfather to many. His eldest son, Major Moshe Yedidya Leiter, a physician and Israeli Air Force officer, and father of six, fell in battle while leading IDF forces into Gaza on November 10, 2023.

 

 

Mr. Szabolcs Takács is currently the Hungarian Ambassador to the United States. He is an advocate for a strong and safe Israel and is quoted as saying, “We, in Hungary, believe that combating anti-Semitism is a moral and a security issue." 

 

 

 

 

 

EMET is proud to honor U.S. Senator John Fetterman, who has served Pennsylvania since 2022 and previously led Braddock, PA, as mayor for over a decade. A Harvard-educated former AmeriCorps member, Fetterman has been a steadfast ally of Israel and the Jewish community—especially since the October 7 Hamas massacre. He has held Hamas and Iran responsible for ongoing violence, championed full funding for Israel’s defense systems, and stood among the few Senate Democrats backing sanctions against the International Criminal Court for targeting Israeli leaders.

 

Fetterman has stated, “I unequivocally support any necessary military, intelligence, and humanitarian aid to Israel. The United States has a moral obligation to be in lockstep with our ally.”

 

Fetterman has called for striking Iran’s nuclear facilities, co-sponsored a bipartisan resolution denouncing antisemitism in the U.S., and consistently spoken out against antisemitic rhetoric from all sides. He has defended Jewish students facing intimidation on college campuses and warned against rewarding Hamas by recognizing a Palestinian state. Senator Fetterman has urged his party to give stronger, unwavering support to Israel and the Jewish people.

Leo Terrell currently serves as Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Justice, a post he began in January 2025 under President Donald Trump. In that capacity, he was tapped to lead the newly formed Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, which is housed in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. As head of the Task Force, Terrell has spearheaded federal investigations into numerous universities alleged to be allowing antisemitic harassment, including high-profile institutions like Harvard, Columbia, UCLA, and others.

 

Terrell has been very clear in his public expressions of support for Israel and the Jewish community. After the October 7 attacks, he began increasingly speaking out about what he describes as antisemitism both abroad and at home, and took up initiatives that tie together his civil rights work with advocacy for Jewish Americans. He frequently participates in pro-Israel events, including student gatherings, wears symbols (like a hat bearing the name of Israeli hostages) as a gesture of solidarity, and emphasizes the moral and human imperative of remembering victims and protecting Jewish students in U.S. institutions.

 

Much of Terrell’s public agenda in the DOJ reflects a belief that ensuring Jewish students feel safe in schools and universities is central to equal protection under the law. His task force enforces Title VI (which prohibits discrimination in federally funded education programs on the basis of race, color, or national origin, which courts have interpreted to include certain religious discrimination in some contexts) and pushes for institutions to take responsibility for harassment or hostile environments. Terrell often frames his work as part of a broader civil-rights tradition, drawing on alliances between Black and Jewish communities.

Anila Ali is an extremely courageous woman and a self-proclaimed “proud Zionist.” Immediately after the horrors of October 7th, Anila took a delegation of fellow Muslim leaders to bear witness in Israel of the atrocities committed there.

 

Born in Karachi Pakistan, Anila overcame decades of socialization of hostility against the Jewish people and the state of Israel, She  the founder and president of The American Muslim and Multifaith Empowerment Council.  Anila is extremely grateful to the Jewish people who have stood by the Muslim people, particularly after the events of September 11th, Said Anila, “After 9/11, the Jewish people stood by us like a rock. That was the beginning of the big battle of good versus evil.”

 

Unfortunately, Anila has had to confront some major Islamist organizations, and she has witnessed how, in her own words, “Israel and the Jewish people have faced harassment, discrimination, ostracization and even abuse.” She continues, Many people have argued with her that “the Jews deserved the October 7th attacks.” Or even more disturbing: “The Jewish people made it all up. There was no rape. There was no murder on October 7th.”

 

And she has said that “The very worst was that people were celebrating the October 7th attacks with the statement “Now the Jewish people are going to feel what we feel.”

 

Anila also states to “Look at the history. When we work together, we are going to flourish. We all worship the same God. Why should we be taught to hate the Jews?”

 

Anila has been honored by Hadassah and other women’s organizations.