Senate panel approves Trump’s Israel envoy despite Dem opposition

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday approved David Friedman to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Israel despite opposition from Democrats. 

The committee voted to clear Friedman’s nomination in a 12-9 vote. 

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was the only Democratic senator to support Friedman’s nomination, according to multiple reports. 

Democrats had voiced concerns over Friedman’s previous comments backing Israel settlements and opposing a two-state solution. 

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) — the top Democrat on the committee — announced on Wednesday that he would not support the nomination. 

{mosads}”Taken together, Mr. Friedman’s statements and affiliations make it clear that he does not believe the two-state solution is necessary for a just and lasting peace,” Cardin said in a statement. 

He added that he believes Friedman’s past stances will negatively impact “his ability to represent the United States as a credible facilitator of the peace process.”

But Cardin noted separately to reporters that he wasn’t lobbying his colleagues to either support or oppose Friedman. 

Friedman’s nomination hasn’t been without controversy. Multiple hecklers disrupted Friedman’s confirmation hearing last month.

Friedman has voiced support for Israel’s construction of settlements in the West Bank, which Israelis and Palestinians both lay claim to. 

He has also advocated for Israel to annex the West Bank and opposed a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Friedman’s nomination will now move to the full Senate. Democrats don’t have the ability to block his nomination. 

Friedman will only need a simple majority, and Republicans have a 52-seat majority.