As Nikki Haley’s sudden announcement of her decision to resign as US ambassador to the United Nations set Washington buzzing about what her future political plans may be, Israeli leaders were swift in issuing heartfelt statements profusely thanking her for standing up for Israel in the world body, and saying they hope to work with her again.“Thank you, Amb. Haley for standing for the truth and exposing hypocrisy at the UN,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. “Just as the people of Israel are grateful for the rock solid support @POTUS Trump has provided Israel in the Oval Office, we are grateful for the rock solid support you’ve provided Israel at the UN.”
“I thank Ambassador Haley for her courage and for a term of office that will be remembered as a turning point in the relations between the US and international organizations,” Israeli President Reuven Rivlin tweeted, adding that he would be happy to welcome her at the presidential residence on her next visit to Israel.
But for the flood of farewell wishes from Israeli leaders, the Palestinians and Jordanians were silent about Haley’s plans to depart. An Iranian diplomat said, in effect, good riddance.
“'New Sheriff in town' is no longer,” Alireza Miryousefi, the spokesman for the Iranian mission to the UN, wrote. “We do not know who she was or what she was about, but she was a serious problem at the UN with her uninformed statements & her causing the isolation of U.S. You need to know: there is no new sheriff in town.”
Though Haley’s resignation letter to President Donald Trump, obtained by the Washington Post, was dated Oct. 3 — almost a full week ago — Trump, appearing with Haley at the White House today, said it might be two or three weeks before he would name a nominee to succeed her. He would be consulting with Haley and “the general” — presumably White House Chief of Staff John Kelly — on possible candidates for the UN job, Trump said.