Daniel Rubinstein is to be appointed next Ambassador of the United States to Syria, replacing Robert S. Ford, who retired on 28 February 2014.

Mr. Rubinstein currently runs the State Department intelligence service. He formerly served as consul in Jerusalem, and is fluent in Arabic and Hebrew.

In the absence of full diplomatic relations between Washington and Damascus, Daniel Rubinstein should be based in Turkey. The take over from Ambassador Ford will be temporarily ensured by Lawrence Silverman.