Kaine Statement on Nomination of David Friedman as U.S. Ambassador to Israel

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after his vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee against the nomination of David Friedman to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel:

“I am a staunch supporter of the critically important U.S.-Israel partnership and have long been committed to strengthening the unbreakable bond between our two countries.  The U.S. Ambassador to Israel serves as the steward of this vital relationship in a volatile part of the world and must be able to engage effectively with representatives across Israeli society, promote dialogue, and demonstrate respect for different views. While it is clear that David Friedman is committed to the U.S.-Israel relationship, his history of inflammatory rhetoric is poorly matched for this role.”

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