David Friedman served as ambassador to Israel during the Trump administration. He is referring to recent remarks by Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, describing them as "shameless head counters" trolling for votes during an election year at a most dangerous time for a U.S. ally.
Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, in March called Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "far-right extremist" who has "lost his way" and called for a new election in Israel in the middle of its war against Hamas.
Pelosi, a two-time Speaker of the House, while visiting Ireland this week called for Netanyahu to immediately resign. In an interview, Pelosi was responding to a reporter's question about the resignation of Israeli spy chief Major Gen. Aharon Haliva over intelligence failures preceding the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas. Pelosi said it was Netanyahu who "should resign."
She had more to say, responding to a question about 34,000 Palestinian deaths during Israel's response, a figure that originates from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
"We recognize Israel's right to protect itself. We reject the policy of Netanyahu – terrible," she said. "What could be worse than what he's done in response?"
Friedman told Washington Watch host Tony Perkins that comments from U.S. political figures like Pelosi and Schumer are devastating for Israel.
"It's a gut punch to all the people who are risking their lives and, in many cases, sacrificing their lives to protect the state of Israel against the most vile forces of evil in the world, forces who frankly hate America just as much as they hate the state of Israel," Friedman said.
"It's the middle of a war. It's an incredibly difficult, challenging environment under the best of circumstances," he continued, "and Pelosi and Schumer are just making it worse for Israel because this is their leader.
"Look: at some point in the future they'll have an election. They'll choose whoever they choose as their prime minister. Maybe it'll be Netanyahu, maybe somebody else, but not now …. Even the people in Israel who despise Netanyahu are rallying around him now as the leader of the country in a time of war."
Adding fuel to the fire, Pelosi's comments come at a time of rising anti-Semitism on U.S. college campuses. What started as televised unrest at Columbia University in New York grew to a tent city on the campus quad that drew the attention of the U.S. House and a visit by Speaker Mike Johnson.
What began as protests at mostly elite Ivy League schools has since spread.
"Multiple protests have erupted across the country in our nation's major universities and Ivy League schools ever since Columbia University protestors established an encampment last week and hundreds of demonstrators were arrested. We've just been seeing that all over the country," Washington Stand news reporter Victoria Marshall told Perkins.
Protestors prompt a COVID throwback
Many of those universities are bringing back online classes as their dominant offering, a throwback to the COVID-19 responses.
"A lot of these schools have been closing their campuses, moving classes online. Even the University of Southern California [Thursday] just announced that they will be canceling their May 10th graduation ceremony because of uncertainties with security. So that's going to be devastating to the students who are going to be missing out on an in-person graduation ceremony," the reporter said.
Marshall said most campuses have seen protestors arrested for illegal trespassing as some encampments have dissolved. Others remain strong, however, including Columbia University as of Thursday.
Comments by elected leaders and political influencers, and images of colleges unable to provide security for their students all combine to weaken America's credibility, Friedman said.
"It's making other countries really doubt whether they can trust America as an ally. When things get tough, I think it reveals what I've known for some time – which is that whether it's Schumer or Pelosi, these are people devoid of principles. These are people who are shameless head counters, and they're looking around right now in an election year and seeing a lot of energy among young people who are hostile to Israel. They want to maintain the option for those votes," Friedman said.
Pelosi and Schumer have eager partners in most media coverage where Israel doesn't get a "fair shake," Friedman said.
"You would think that a nation that was invaded by bloodthirsty terrorists who burned babies, raped women, slaughtered people in their beds, took 250 hostages, continue to hold 130 hostages … you would think [Hamas] would not be garnering much sympathy anywhere in the world."
Demonstrations filled with anti-Israel and anti-America chants show the strength of that Hamas sympathy, however.
Friedman: The book holds us together
Friedman said in this Passover season Jews bond together and take comfort in their history.
"We say this at every Seder; we say In every generation, they rise up against us – and God comes to our aid. And what holds us together is the Bible. The Bible stands with us as our protection," he shared.
"Go back 3,500 years. There aren't a lot of nations right now around from that period. There are no more Canaanites or Jebusites or Phoenicians. We're all that's left of that antiquity, and it's because of the book. It's because the book has held us together, and God has protected us. This reinforces our faith and makes us cling to our biblical heritage in the words of God with greater strength."
