Washington: President-elect Donald Trump will nominate bankruptcy attorney David Friedman as US ambassador to Israel and Friedman said he looked forward to taking up his post in Jerusalem.
If that city does become the site of Washington’s embassy, it would upend decades of US foreign policy, spark rancour across the Muslim world and call into question the future of the Palestinian quest for statehood.
The US embassy has been located in Tel Aviv for more than 68 years. Trump had pledged during the presidential campaign to move it to Jerusalem – marking a break with diplomatic convention at least as profound as his phone call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
“[Friedman] has been a long-time friend and trusted adviser to me. His strong relationships in Israel will form the foundation of his diplomatic mission and be a tremendous asset to our country as we strengthen the ties with our allies and strive for peace in the Middle East,” Trump said.
Read the report by Yara Bayoumy in The Age.