Netanyahu urged to dismiss US envoy

An opposition Israeli politician has called on prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dismiss his ambassador to the United States for failing to report sexual assault allegations against a top Netanyahu aide.

Karin Elharrar said Ron Dermer should be recalled from Washington for not reporting the warnings he received about David Keyes, Mr Netanyahu’s spokesman to foreign media.

Last week, Julia Salazar, a candidate for New York’s state senate, accused Mr Keyes of sexually assaulting her five years ago.

Wall Street Journal reporter Shayndi Raice tweeted she too had a “terrible encounter” with Mr Keyes before he became Mr Netanyahu’s spokesman. She described him as a “predator” and someone who had “absolutely no conception of the word ‘no’ ”.

At least a dozen other women have since come forward with varying allegations, some of which are said to have been committed since Mr Keyes took up his current position.