Image by YouTube

By Naomi Zeveloff March 7, 2017

President Trump’s pick for Israel envoy donated to a controversial organization that plants Jewish settlers in the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City in order to cement Jewish control there, Haaretz reported.

Friedman has given multiple donations to Ateret Cohanim, which owns 59 properties in the Muslim Quarter and East Jerusalem where it has settled some 1,100 Jews, according to Peace Now.

Ateret Cohanim, which means Crown of the Priests, acquires its properties by buying from Muslims or securing their eviction and by acquiring rights to government-seized property. In 1992, Israel’s Justice Ministry found that the government confiscated some Palestinian properties based on unsupported affidavits submitted by Ateret Cohanim.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

American Friends of Ateret Cohanim congratulated Friedman on his nomination, wishing him a “heartfelt Mazal Tov” in a statement.

Friedman is also a supporter of Beit El, a settlement near Ramallah, as the head of American Friends of Beit El Institutions.

Friedman’s ties to the settler movement, which he sought to downplay at his confirmation hearings, have earned him opposition from some liberal Jewish groups.

Friedman is expected to be confirmed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, after which his appointment will go before the full Senate.

Contact Naomi Zeveloff at [email protected]

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount