The Ambassadors

Ukraine and Israel take their wars to the American front

Last month, I was fortunate enough to receive invitations to listen to the ambassadors of two embattled countries- Ukraine and Israel.  Considering that these dialogues would be occurring in the intimate setting of a Nashville private home, there was no chance in hell that I would ever miss such opportunities.  Now I have heard both Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova and Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog speak their cases on why Americans should continue to support their war efforts, despite fierce opposition from many corners of this country.  The esteemed backgrounds of both Markarova and Herzog are a clear indication of the value both Ukraine and Israel place on their relationship with the United States, whom they both see as their strongest and most valuable ally.  As an American, I feel tremendously honored. 

The first event, on Tuesday, March 19, was Markarova’s.  Oksana Markarova was Ukraine’s Minister of Finance between 2018 and 2020 before being appointed ambassador to the United States in 2021 by President Zelensky.  Earlier in her career, she worked at the World Bank, was the chair of a global investment firm, and was part of the team negotiating Ukraine’s loans from the International Monetary Fund.  While her background was financial rather than diplomatic, Markarova has clearly adjusted well to her new role.

During the dinner hour, I had several fascinating conversations.  One was with an elderly Jewish gentleman whose father worked on a German cruise line until 1933, wisely hopping off in New York as Hitler was assuming power.  I also met Ambassador Markarova’s assistant, whom I inquired about the Hunter Biden Burisma affair.  While she admitted the Bidens’ conduct was likely unethical, she defended the controversial firing of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor Viktor Shokin.  President Biden has even publicly bragged about this firing.  While halting Shokin’s investigation of the Biden family’s ties with Burisma certainly had poor optics, most Ukrainians believed that his dismissal was necessary.  After all, Shokin was seen in Ukraine as a lackey of corrupt ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, whose influence needed purging from Ukraine’s institutions.  Sadly, that whole story has been unable to escape the circus of American domestic politics. 

As someone with a finance degree, Markarova focused her lecture on Ukraine’s medium-to-long-term economic outlook.  Contrary to the conventional wisdom that Ukraine has little chance of regaining significant lost territory anytime soon, let alone joining NATO, Markarova offered the audience optimistic predictions that one day Ukraine would, with its territorial integrity restored, become a trade and energy hub.  As anyone who has been following headlines knows, Ukraine’s ambitions are looking ever more quixotic as the embattled nation suffers critical shortages of both ammunition and manpower.  While I admire Markarova’s rose-colored optimism, the outlook for Ukraine sadly remains extremely grim.  It is no secret that Americans are increasingly tuning out events in Eastern Europe.

Nine days after meeting Markarova, I returned to the same address to hear Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog.  Herzog comes from, as another speaker at the dinner claimed, “Israel’s equivalent of royalty”.  Herzog’s father, Chaim Herzog, was a general in the Israeli Defense Forces who went on to become President of Israel in 1983.  Herzog’s brother, Isaac Herzog, is the current President of Israel (though the role is mostly ceremonial).  Ambassador Herzog himself was also an IDF general who later worked at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. 

For decades, the relationship with the United States has, despite a history of ups and downs, been seen by the Israeli establishment as Israel’s most critical.  Unlike with Ukraine or many other allies, the American people have gladly returned the favor.  With the strong support of both the Jewish and Evangelical Christian communities, Israel has always enjoyed a special relationship with the United States.  This special relationship, however, has come under tremendous strain in light of the brutal war currently being waged between Israel and Hamas, and accusations that Israel has deliberately committed crimes against humanity against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.  With even the Biden Administration demanding Israel negotiate for a ceasefire, the Israelis have been scrambling to find all the support they can receive.

Ambassador Herzog’s words left no doubt in my mind: Israel is determined, no matter how bloody such an operation will be, to finish the war until Hamas’ military capabilities in the Gaza Strip are completely and permanently destroyed.  For Israelis after the October 7 attack, this obligation is truly existential.  During question time, I was lucky enough to be the final guest able to inquire the ambassador directly- how do you justify the mass civilian casualties in Gaza?  (In a previous essay, I made clear my feelings for Israel's brutal attacks against Palestinian civilians.)  Herzog responded with the same argument Israel has employed for years- that not only does Israel make exhaustive efforts to limit civilian casualties, but Hamas, for whom the quality of life for Palestinian civilians matters little, uses Gaza’s civilians as a shield for their military bases.  While Hamas is a despicable outfit whom I believe does use civilian shields, questions will remain for a long time about Israel’s conduct in its war against Hamas.

I recognize that both ambassadors are required to present as positive of an impression of their countries as possible.  Failure to do so would be a dereliction of duty and grounds for removal.  However, while I share deep sympathies with the profound losses of the Israeli people and the even more devastating losses of the Ukrainian people, I recognize that both nations face tremendous challenges ahead convincing the world to support their struggles.  A diplomat can tout Israel’s international support, but he cannot gloss over the virulent hatred against his country across the Middle East and even in the United States.  I am sure Ambassador Markarova is aware of Ukraine’s daunting challenges as well, despite her public persona.  Since opposition to both Ukraine and Israel is growing in the United States, these ambassadors certainly have their work cut out for them for the foreseeable future.