Israel at War: The View from Washington – with Ambassador Yechiel Leiter

As Israel engages in open warfare with Iran, Israel’s most senior envoy in Washington is in a different war zone—battling for U.S. support and moral clarity in the face of escalating threats.

Host Aviva Klompas sits down with Ambassador Yechiel Leiter to discuss the Iranian threat, the state of U.S. support, and what it will take to achieve victory. The conversation turns deeply personal as they discuss the recent murder of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., and the profound loss of Ambassador Leiter’s son, Major Moshe Leiter, during combat in Gaza.

Ambassador Leiter reflects on his role as a bridge between Israel and the U.S. and the principles guiding Israel’s war effort—both on the battlefield and in the diplomatic arena.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Yechiel (Michael) Leiter was appointed Israel’s Ambassador to the United States in January 2025. A longtime public servant, he has served as adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Chief of Staff to then-Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and held senior roles in the Ministries of Education and Transportation. He holds a PhD in political philosophy and is the author of a Cambridge University Press book on John Locke and the Hebrew Bible. Ambassador Leiter is a father of eight. His eldest son, Maj. Moshe Yedidya Leiter—a doctor, special ops commander, and father of six—was killed in Gaza in November 2023.