“I’ve known Israeli consuls general for the last 30 years or so. And I don’t think Israel has had a more effective leader in New England in that time than Nadav Tamir," former president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Steve Grossman told the Boston Globe Monday.

Tamir has been summoned to Israel by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman after a confidential memo he wrote criticizing the way Israel was handling its relations with the US was leaked to the media. He is scheduled to land in the country Tuesday.

Lieberman said in regards to the memo, "If someone is not happy and can’t live with government policy, the way is not to criticize and leak but to resign. With all due respect to the consul . . . it is not his job to express political positions.’’

Influential Jewish leaders in New England rallied in Tamir's defense this week in a Boston Globe front-page story, describing him as one of the best spokespeople Israel has ever had.

“I think he believed, and believes, he has a responsibility to provide his government with timely and relevant information that will enable them to make the best possible decisions that will affect his government and the US-Israel relationship. And I think that is an entirely legitimate and critical part of his job description,’’ Grossman told the newspaper.

Michael Ross, president of the Boston City Council and son of a Holocaust survivor, said Tamir was “a dedicated advocate for Israel’’ and added, “I hope Israeli leadership will recognize his value to both their government and to Boston and will keep him in New England through the remainder of his tenure.’’

Another supporter, Nancy Kaufman, executive director of the Jewish community Relations Council since 1990 described the Israeli consul as "thoughtful, fair, and insightful" and " the best Israeli diplomat I have worked with in my 19 years here."

Ilan Troen, an Israeli-American who is director of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University told the Boson daily that Tamir “is one of the brightest midcareer service people in the Israeli foreign service. When you mention Nadav Tamir in the Foreign Ministry, people’s eyes light up.’’