Trump, Settlement Resolution, and the Proposed U.S. Ambassador to Israel

If Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States, aims to demonstrate a complete shift from Barack Obama's policies towards Israel, David Friedman, his choice for U.S. Ambassador to Israel, is the most suitable person to convey this message. According to the Associated Press, David Friedman, a financial lawyer and the son of an Orthodox rabbi, is a staunch advocate for the construction of Jewish settlements, opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state, and is an active supporter of the Israeli government. He is so far-right that many supporters of Israel are concerned he may push Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is already hardline, further towards extremism, thereby eliminating any possibility for the resumption and success of the peace process with the Palestinians. The heated discussions regarding David Friedman's appointment as U.S. Ambassador to Israel coincide with a new wave of tension in U.S.-Israel relations. In a surprising decision on Friday, the Obama administration allowed the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution declaring Israeli settlement construction in occupied territories illegal. The U.S. decision to abstain from voting, instead of vetoing the resolution, contradicts Washington's usual approach, which has historically protected Israel from the possibility of such resolutions being passed. This decision was criticized by Israel, lawmakers from both U.S. parties, and particularly Donald Trump, who tweeted that this situation would change after his inauguration on January 20. U.S. presidents from both parties have always defended the two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state, and Netanyahu has stated he agrees with this solution. However, David Friedman, whose appointment must be confirmed by the Senate, opposes this solution. The Obama administration had closely collaborated with a pro-Israel group called J Street, which has been highly critical of Netanyahu's policies. However, David Friedman has accused Obama of 'open anti-Semitism' and described J Street as 'worse than kapos,' a term referring to Jews who collaborated with the Nazis during the genocide of their fellow Jews. The U.S. government has opposed the construction of Jewish settlements in areas occupied by Israel since the 1967 war for decades. However, David Friedman is the director of a non-profit organization that raises funds for a nationalist and religious Jewish settlement called Beit El near Ramallah. Beit El provocatively encourages Israeli soldiers through its right-wing news network to disobey evacuation orders for Jewish settlements. For this reason, David Friedman's selection has severely divided the American Jewish community. Some advocate for U.S. pressure on Israel to accept the peace process with the Palestinians, while others believe the Obama administration has abandoned America's closest ally in the Middle East. The Associated Press reports that David Friedman, a Columbia Law School graduate, is a lawyer known for his work in bankruptcy cases. He represented Trump in the bankruptcy case of Trump's casino empire in Atlanta. Leftist American groups and Palestinian officials who strongly oppose David Friedman's appointment say that his confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to Israel will end any serious negotiations regarding Middle East peace. So far, Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly reacted to Trump's choice for the U.S. Embassy in Israel. In this context, Netanyahu has prohibited his ministers from traveling to countries that support the settlement resolution. Trump stated that the UN resolution makes peace between Israel and Palestine much harder. Netanyahu declared that Israel does not consider itself bound by the shameful Security Council resolution. The Security Council passed a resolution to halt construction in the occupied territories. Israeli officials have requested Trump to prevent the passage of a resolution against settlement construction.