WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said in a press interview earlier this week, among other troubling statements, “there’s no question Republicans support Israel more than Democrats.”

“Among the many reasons I could not support David Friedman’s nomination last year was because he proudly participated in efforts to drive a partisan wedge into longstanding bipartisan support for Israel among the American people. Once he was confirmed, I held the faintest of hopes he had learned the lessons of his egregious writings and rhetoric and that he might serve honorably as America’s representative in Israel. His recent hyper-partisan comments about support for Israel in American politics are wrong, insensitive, and demonstrate his ill-preparedness to be a suitable diplomat to one of our most important allies and friends in the world. Ambassador Friedman’s comments are a troubling and unfortunate set back in the enduring bipartisan work that is necessary to resolve tensions in the Middle East, seek peace for all, and ensure Israel’s security.”