Netanyahu “warmly welcomed” David Friedman, new US ambassador to the Jewish state, as a “close friend of Israel.”
The United States Senate confirmed on Thursday President Donald Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, in a vote of 52-46 that was almost entirely along party lines.
Only two Democrats, Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, voted in favor of Friedman’s confirmation.
“The new US ambassador to Israel David Friedman will be warmly welcomed as US President Trump’s representative and as a close friend of Israel,” Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Twitter Thursday evening.
“Congratulations to David Friedman!” Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer immediately tweeted after the confirmation. “Looking forward to working closely with you to make the US-Israel alliance stronger than ever.”
Friedman is known to have close ties to the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria. The confirmation was opposed by J Street, a far-left NGO, and the Union of Reform Judaism.
By: United with Israel Staff