Richard Jones has been appointed as America’s new ambassador to Israel, effective in September. Jones replaces Dan Kurtzer, who will remain in office until after the Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip. Jones has served as advisor on Iraq to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and ambassdor to Khazakstan, Kuwait, and Lebanon. Although Jones has very little experience with Israel, he has praised the government’s economic reforms and says he hopes to strengthen economic ties between the US and Israel.