Posted on 02/16/2017 8:23:58 AM PST by Eleutheria5
Five former US ambassadors to Israel claimed Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s choice for the position is unqualified, and they are urging senators to carefully consider the nomination.
In a letter sent to members of the Foreign Relations Committee, the former diplomats said David Friedman has staked out “extreme, radical positions” and has derided the two-state solution as an “illusory” fix for a non-existent problem.
“We believe the committee should satisfy itself that Mr. Friedman has the balance and the temperament required to represent the United States as ambassador to Israel,” they wrote.
The committee is scheduled to meet Thursday for Friedman’s confirmation hearing.
The ambassadors, who served Republican and Democratic presidents, say Friedman accused President Barack Obama and the entire State Department of anti-Semitism. They say he’s also characterized supporters of J Street, an extreme left-wing Jewish group, as “kapos,” the Jews who cooperated with Nazis during the Holocaust.
The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the letter from the former ambassadors.
The son of an Orthodox rabbi, Friedman is a fervent supporter of Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria, an opponent of Palestinian statehood and staunch defender of Israel’s government.
The former envoys wrote that Friedman has said he does not believe it would be illegal for Israel to annex Judea and Samaria and that he has been active in supporting Israel’s presence there.
“The American ambassador must be dedicated to advancing our country’s longstanding bipartisan goals in the region: strengthening the security of the United States and our ally Israel, and advancing the prospects for peace between Israel and its neighbors, in particular the Palestinians,” the letter stated. “If Israel is to carry on as a democratic, Jewish nation, respected internationally, we see no alternative to a two-state solution.”
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I'd say he sees things pretty much as they are.
Less qualified than Dan Rooney, an octogenarian football team owner that Obama tapped to be Ambassador to Ireland?
“The ambassadors, who served Republican and Democratic presidents,”
DO THEY HAVE NAMES?
I think someone should admire the people and know the country they are going to as a US ambassador. I don't think being a celebrity or a campaign donor qualifies. David Friedman sounds like a fine ambassador to Israel.
The letter is a startlingly clear admission of the failure of vision and sanity that afflicted the Snake Department these last many years. Friedman looks good so far and this letter makes him look excellent for the job. You can usually evaluate a person well by the kinds of enemies he attracts. Anyone who attracts five enemies from the Nazi- infested Snake Dept should probably be hired forthwith! Go Trump! And Drain the Swamp at Snake, too
The five former ambassadors are the very definition of fools.
Like past ambassadors have done a good job and been successful at a peace deal...
He’s Irish and has a red nose. What more do you need?
He should have picked Caroline Kennedy. That worked so well with Japan because she was sooo qualified.
Belatedly provided in #35. Used to be if you forgot the link, the post wouldn’t post.
One cannot have a two state solution when one of the participants will not even recognize Israel’s right to exist. It’s time to tell the Palestinians to go to hell and turn Israel loose to “solve” the problem. You end a war by winning it!!!
MONEY
After reading the accusations against him, he has my full support.
Shut up and sit down former failures!
unlike that great statesman and orator to Japan Yaknow Kennedy...
She was born and raised in Chicago, educated at Columbia and Harvard, and I believe she has maintained her American citizenship.
Reform Movement declares war on David Friedman
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/225210
All the right people are against him.
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