Thomas Nides, who arrived in Israel in late November to serve as the new American ambassador, said in his first interview with the Israeli media on January 14 that he had never visited an Israeli settlement, though he had visited Israel many times, and when asked if he might now do so, replied “I absolutely will not.”

That remark must have greatly cheered the Palestinians; no doubt there were smiles all around in the Muqata as they realized what kind of man they would now be dealing with. In Israel, however, and not only in the settlements where half a million Israelis live, there must have been a blend of amazement, chagrin, and fury at this novice diplomat’s most undiplomatic demarche.

A lengthy report on Nides’ “first strange and fatal interview” is here: “New US envoy says ‘absolutely won’t’ visit settlements, to avoid inflaming tensions,” by Jacob Magid, Times of Israel, January 14, 2022:

New US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides said Friday that he’d never visited an Israeli settlement in the West Bank and had no plans to do so, as part of his effort as envoy not to take steps that could inflame the situation on the ground.

When pressed, during his first interview with Israeli media since arriving in Israel, as to whether he might make such a visit, Nides told the Yedioth Ahronoth daily, “I absolutely will not.”