President Donald Trump's ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, intends to work from Jerusalem even before any possible embassy move from Tel Aviv, Harretz reported Monday.
Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, told the newspaper Friedman "told me he plans to work from Jerusalem, right from the beginning" of his term.
"Look, he has an apartment in Jerusalem that he owns, there is a U.S. consulate in Jerusalem – one way or another, he can work from Jerusalem," Klein told Haaretz.
"I hope it will be from a formal embassy that will be moved, but one way or another, he can work from Jerusalem, even if it is not moved immediately, and it should be moved immediately."
Klein made the remarks to Haaretz after a meeting in New York with hedge-fund founder Anthony Scaramucci, who now serves as an adviser and public liaison to government agencies and businesses.
Haaretz reported the meeting was expected to cover issues relating to Israel and moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem – which Trump has pledged to do and on which discussions have begun.
"The meeting went well, there will be other meetings," Klein told Haaretz.
Friedman has been criticized as a choice for ambassador to Israel, but Klein backs him fully, Haaretz reported.
"None of the Jewish groups that I'm aware of have publicly supported David Freidman," Klein said. "This is a wonderful Zionist, and the Arabs scream about him, yet the Jews don't [support him], except the ZOA. What is wrong with Jewish organizations? I have endorsed him publicly everywhere I can."
Klein added he also has spoken with Trump's chief of staff, Stephen Bannon.
"I have a great relationship with him," Klein told Haaretz. "We speak on the phone; he asks me about Israel. I tell him my opinions about the embassy – I believe it should be moved immediately.
"As I have said to many people in the administration, you cannot allow threats of terrorism to control policy. If you do, you'll get more terrorism."
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