US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who was sworn in March 29th, will be arriving in Israel next Monday to begin his service at the US Embassy.
Confirming recent reports that he will begin his assignment on this coming week, Friedman tweeted Tuesday that he would arrive in Israel on May 15th.
“I am arriving in Israel on May 15 to represent the United States as Ambassador to Israel.”
After his arrival on Monday, Friedman will present his credentials to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who will officially receive him as America’s ambassador to the Jewish state.
Friedman also fueled speculation in his tweet that the Trump administration may be preparing to relocate the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the Israeli capital, Jerusalem.
“I hope to work out of Jerusalem very soon!”
As a candidate in the 2016 presidential election, Trump pledged to implement the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act and relocate the US Embassy to Jerusalem and to formally recognize the city as the undivided capital of the State of Israel.
Since taking office, however, Trump has remained mum on whether he will fulfill his campaign pledge.
Friedman, who maintains a residence in Jerusalem, had requested to work out of either his home office or the US Consulate in Jerusalem, a request reportedly denied by State Department officials.
Senior US officials reported last week that while Friedman would reside in Jerusalem, and not in the official Ambassador’s Residence in Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv, he would be working out of the Tel Aviv Embassy until a final decision on the embassy move was made.
