Schakowsky Statement on the Appointment of David Friedman as U.S. Ambassador to Israel

Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky released the following statement after the announcement that President-elect Donald Trump will nominate David Friedman as United States Ambassador to Israel:

“David Friedman is wholly unfit and completely unqualified to serve as our country’s ambassador to Israel,” said Representative Schakowsky. “He has a long record of extremist statements in opposition to a two-state solution and in support of settlement expansion in the West Bank. These positions are in direct opposition to long-standing official U.S. policy held by both Republican and Democratic Administrations. Further, they go against the views of the majority of American Jews who believe that a two-state solution is vital for Israel’s future as a democratic home for the Jewish people. Mr. Friedman has been viciously uncompromising, calling Jews who support a two-state solution ‘worse than kapos,’ using a Holocaust-era term for Jews who cooperated with Nazis.

At a time when we need an ambassador to Israel who has demonstrated the highest level of diplomatic skills, President-elect Trump has named a bankruptcy lawyer with no foreign policy credentials; an individual who has antagonized and insulted both Jews and Arabs with his far-right statements and divisive rhetoric. His appointment would make a very dangerous situation even worse.

With this nomination, President-elect Trump risks upending regional stability, makes a permanent peace agreement even more difficult to obtain, and threatens the security of Israel. I urge the Senate to swiftly reject this confirmation.”