Ron Dermer
Encyclopedia
Ron Dermer is an American
born Israeli political consultant. He serves as senior advisor to current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
. He formerly served as Israel's Minister for Economic Affairs in the United States
, a position requiring him to give up his American citizenship.
, as the younger son of Yaffa Rosenthal, who was born in Mandate Palestine
and moved to Florida with her parents shortly after Israel won its independence, and Jay Dermer, a trial lawyer from New York
, who became Mayor of Miami Beach in the late 1960s. Dermer went to a Jewish day school. In 1984, two weeks before his bar mitzvah, his father died of a heart attack. His brother David Dermer, a Democrat
like his father, also served as Mayor of Miami Beach, and helped reelect Republican
President George W. Bush
in Florida.
Dermer earned a B.A. in Finance and Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
in 1993, and a Master's degree
in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from Oxford University in 1996. In 1995, while still at Oxford, he helped manage Natan Sharansky
's Yisrael b'Aliyah 1996 Knesset
election campaign. In 1996 Dermer moved to Israel, and in 1997, he begun the process of becoming an Israeli citizen. On August 9, 1998, he married artist Adi Blumberg, the daughter of then chairman of the Bank of Jerusalem
who had grown up in the Old City of Jerusalem. The wedding was presided over by Adin Steinsaltz
. Blumberg died in February 2000.
Dermer worked as a political consultant for Natan Sharansky
in the 1999 campaign, and from January 2001 for nearly three years he wrote a column “The Numbers Game” for the Jerusalem Post. In 2004, he and Sharansky co-wrote the best-selling book The Case For Democracy
: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror, famously endorsed by then US-President George W. Bush
. In 2005, while Benjamin Netanyahu
served as Finance Minister under Ariel Sharon
, Dermer was appointed Minister for Economic Affairs to the Israeli embassy in Washington, a post for which he had to give up his American citizenship. In 2008, after his return to Israel, he became adviser to Netanyahu, whose successful election campaign replicated Barack Obama
's.
Currently Dermer is Netanyahu’s senior adviser. According to The Jerusalem Post
, he “runs much of the interference with the White House
, and is intimately involved in the diplomatic process with the Palestinians, [... and] writes many of Netanyahu’s speeches”. He is considered Netanyahu's closest adviser and strategic consultant.
Dermer is married to Rhoda Pagano Dermer. The couple has four children and live in Jerusalem.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
born Israeli political consultant. He serves as senior advisor to current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
. He formerly served as Israel's Minister for Economic Affairs in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a position requiring him to give up his American citizenship.
Biography
Ron Dermer was born and raised in Miami Beach, FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, as the younger son of Yaffa Rosenthal, who was born in Mandate Palestine
Mandate Palestine
Mandate Palestine existed while the British Mandate for Palestine, which formally began in September 1923 and terminated in May 1948, was in effect...
and moved to Florida with her parents shortly after Israel won its independence, and Jay Dermer, a trial lawyer from New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, who became Mayor of Miami Beach in the late 1960s. Dermer went to a Jewish day school. In 1984, two weeks before his bar mitzvah, his father died of a heart attack. His brother David Dermer, a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
like his father, also served as Mayor of Miami Beach, and helped reelect Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in Florida.
Dermer earned a B.A. in Finance and Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School is the business school of the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wharton was the world’s first collegiate business school and the first business school in the United States...
in 1993, and a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from Oxford University in 1996. In 1995, while still at Oxford, he helped manage Natan Sharansky
Natan Sharansky
Natan Sharansky was born in Stalino, Soviet Union on 20 January 1948 to a Jewish family. He graduated with a degree in applied mathematics from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. As a child, he was a chess prodigy. He performed in simultaneous and blindfold displays, usually against...
's Yisrael b'Aliyah 1996 Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
election campaign. In 1996 Dermer moved to Israel, and in 1997, he begun the process of becoming an Israeli citizen. On August 9, 1998, he married artist Adi Blumberg, the daughter of then chairman of the Bank of Jerusalem
Bank of Jerusalem
Bank of Jerusalem, Ltd. is Israel's seventh largest bank, with total assets of 9,301 million shekels.-History:The bank was founded in 1963 as a mortgage bank and in 1992 had an initial public offering on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange...
who had grown up in the Old City of Jerusalem. The wedding was presided over by Adin Steinsaltz
Adin Steinsaltz
Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz or Adin Even Yisrael is a teacher, philosopher, social critic, and spiritual mentor, who has been hailed by Time magazine as a "once-in-a-millennium scholar". He has devoted his life to making the Talmud accessible to all Jews...
. Blumberg died in February 2000.
Dermer worked as a political consultant for Natan Sharansky
Natan Sharansky
Natan Sharansky was born in Stalino, Soviet Union on 20 January 1948 to a Jewish family. He graduated with a degree in applied mathematics from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. As a child, he was a chess prodigy. He performed in simultaneous and blindfold displays, usually against...
in the 1999 campaign, and from January 2001 for nearly three years he wrote a column “The Numbers Game” for the Jerusalem Post. In 2004, he and Sharansky co-wrote the best-selling book The Case For Democracy
The Case for Democracy
The Case for Democracy is a foreign policy manifesto written by one-time Soviet political prisoner and former Israeli Member of the Knesset, Natan Sharansky. Sharansky's friend Ron Dermer is the book's co-author...
: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror, famously endorsed by then US-President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. In 2005, while Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
served as Finance Minister under Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
, Dermer was appointed Minister for Economic Affairs to the Israeli embassy in Washington, a post for which he had to give up his American citizenship. In 2008, after his return to Israel, he became adviser to Netanyahu, whose successful election campaign replicated Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's.
Currently Dermer is Netanyahu’s senior adviser. According to The Jerusalem Post
The Jerusalem Post
The Jerusalem Post is an Israeli daily English-language broadsheet newspaper, founded on December 1, 1932 by Gershon Agron as The Palestine Post. The daily readership numbers do not approach those of the major Hebrew newspapers....
, he “runs much of the interference with the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, and is intimately involved in the diplomatic process with the Palestinians, [... and] writes many of Netanyahu’s speeches”. He is considered Netanyahu's closest adviser and strategic consultant.
Dermer is married to Rhoda Pagano Dermer. The couple has four children and live in Jerusalem.