Democratic lawmakers say no Democrats were invited to Jerusalem embassy ceremony

Jared Kushner speaking while U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman looks on at the opening ceremony of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, May 14, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

JTA

(JTA) — The Democratic members of the influential House Foreign Affairs Committee sent a letter to U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman expressing concern of a “dangerous effort to politicize the U.S.-Israel relationship.”

The letter dated May 28 was first reported by the Jewish Insider politics website.

The six committee members said in the letter that contrary to statements Friedman gave in an interview with Axios last week, no Democratic members of Congress were invited by the White House to participate in the U.S. Embassy transfer ceremony in Jerusalem earlier this month.

“We believe it is essential that you, as an American diplomat, have the full set of facts so that your interactions with your Israeli host government don’t leave them with a mistaken impression,” the letter said. “We would deeply regret if the government of Israel was left with the mistaken impression that Democratic lawmakers chose not to attend the event.”

On previous occasions of importance to the U.S. and Israel, the letter noted, the White House organized bipartisan participation.

It was signed by Jewish Reps. Eliot Engel, Ted Deutch, Brad Sherman and Brad Schneider, as well as Albio Sires and Tom Suozzi.

The letter asked Friedman to provide the House committee with any communications he received or sent regarding the participation of American dignitaries in the embassy events.