A few hours before the long-awaited meeting between Joe Biden and Vladimir Poutin in Geneva, the American president has announced several positions as ambassadors. Among the nominations, two stand out: the one in Israel and that of the Council of the Civil Aviation Organization, a world-famous pilot.
This theme would not usually have attracted attention, but we are talking about Chesley B. Sullenberger, better known as “Sully”. Sully is this pilot who, on January 15, 2009, landed his Airbus A320 in front of Manhattan, on the Hudson, a few minutes after taking off from the Guardia, due to a failure on two engines. The control tower had offered him alternative solutions, but chose to land on the water because he knew he could not reach an airport. Total success for this operation since the 155 passengers came out unharmed.
His appointment is not that surprising, not least because he was active during the presidential campaign. He was also illustrated in a clip sponsored by the Lincoln Project, a group of dissident Republicans who had one goal: the defeat of Donald Trump. In the pictures, Chesley B. Sullenberger begins with the notion of leadership. It is, according to him, to serve a cause more important than his own person, an area in which, he says, Donald Trump failed miserably.
Thomas Nides at the head of the embassy in Israel
Sully’s appointment as Ambassador to the Civil Aviation Organization Council can also bring a smile. In the movie Sully, which traces the story of this incredible landing on the Hudson with Tom Hanks in the role of pilot, we learn that he had quite a few problems with this institution, which questioned his choice.
Less surprising, but much more expected, the appointment of the new American ambassador to Israel, Thomas Nides. The post has always been sensitive, but all the more so now, after the war between the Hebrew state and Hamas a month ago, and only two days after the appointment of a new government in Tel- Aviv. This former senior State Department official under the Obama administration had recently opposed to the abolition of aid to Palestinian refugees.
Even though Israel is still the ally of the United States, the ambassador will be more measured than his predecessor David Friedman. The new administration is also not expected to reverse the move of the US embassy. She moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018. Thomas Nides’ appointment has yet to be confirmed by the Senate, by simple majority.
In any case, the mission promises to be complicated. Until a few hours ago, the Israeli air force carried out strikes in the Gaza Strip. Retaliation for throwing incendiary balloons from Palestinian territory.
