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David Friedman confirmed: Man who said liberal Jews worse than Nazi collaborators to be US ambassador to Israel | David Friedman confirmed: Man who said liberal Jews worse than Nazi collaborators to be US ambassador to Israel |
(35 minutes later) | |
A fervent supporter of Jewish settlements and opponent of Palestinian statehood has been confirmed as the next American ambassador to Israel, by the Republican led US Senate. | A fervent supporter of Jewish settlements and opponent of Palestinian statehood has been confirmed as the next American ambassador to Israel, by the Republican led US Senate. |
David Friedman, Donald Trump's choice for the role, will now take up the role after senators voted largely along party lines, 52-46 to approve his nomination. | David Friedman, Donald Trump's choice for the role, will now take up the role after senators voted largely along party lines, 52-46 to approve his nomination. |
Democrats, who claimed that he lacked the temperament for such an important diplomatic post, were unable to block his appointment to the role. | Democrats, who claimed that he lacked the temperament for such an important diplomatic post, were unable to block his appointment to the role. |
The son of an Orthodox rabbi, Mr Friedman has been a fervent supporter of Israeli settlements and an opponent of Palestinian statehood. He has also staunchly defended Israel's government | The son of an Orthodox rabbi, Mr Friedman has been a fervent supporter of Israeli settlements and an opponent of Palestinian statehood. He has also staunchly defended Israel's government |
A combative attorney who once worked as Mr Trump's bankruptcy lawyer, his nomination generated strident opposition from many Democrats. T | A combative attorney who once worked as Mr Trump's bankruptcy lawyer, his nomination generated strident opposition from many Democrats. T |
hey pointed to Friedman's past verbal attacks against people with opposing viewpoints on Israel and argued he lacked the temperament for such an important diplomatic post. | hey pointed to Friedman's past verbal attacks against people with opposing viewpoints on Israel and argued he lacked the temperament for such an important diplomatic post. |
Sen. Al Franken said Mr Friedman's "past conduct demonstrates that he lacks the tools one needs to be a good diplomat." | Sen. Al Franken said Mr Friedman's "past conduct demonstrates that he lacks the tools one needs to be a good diplomat." |
Mr Friedman sought to use his confirmation hearing in February to apologise for using inflammatory language and pledged to be "respectful and measured" if confirmed. | Mr Friedman sought to use his confirmation hearing in February to apologise for using inflammatory language and pledged to be "respectful and measured" if confirmed. |
During that hearing, he acknowledged he deserved criticism for incendiary comments that targeted former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, liberal Jewish advocacy groups and others. | During that hearing, he acknowledged he deserved criticism for incendiary comments that targeted former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, liberal Jewish advocacy groups and others. |
Mr Friedman had called one group, J Street, "worse than kapos" — a reference to Jews who helped the Nazis imprison other Jews during the Holocaust. He also accused Mr Obama of "anti-Semitism." | Mr Friedman had called one group, J Street, "worse than kapos" — a reference to Jews who helped the Nazis imprison other Jews during the Holocaust. He also accused Mr Obama of "anti-Semitism." |
Republicans said Mr Friedman's atonement satisfied them. | Republicans said Mr Friedman's atonement satisfied them. |
Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called Friedman an "impassioned advocate" for strengthening bonds between the United States and Israel. | Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called Friedman an "impassioned advocate" for strengthening bonds between the United States and Israel. |
Mr Corker said Mr Friedman "understands the complexity of the issues at stake for the US and the necessity to support a democratic ally in an important and unstable part of the world." | Mr Corker said Mr Friedman "understands the complexity of the issues at stake for the US and the necessity to support a democratic ally in an important and unstable part of the world." |
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