Report: Trump’s Envoy to Israel Sought to Block Scrutiny of Country’s Military Aid

HEART ON HIS SLEEVE

Updated Jun. 16, 2018 2:12PM EDT / Published Jun. 16, 2018 2:06PM EDT

Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman reportedly defied a request by the State Department last October to review U.S. military aid to the country over human-rights concerns. State Department officials had asked all U.S. embassies in the Middle East to examine American military assistance to ensure U.S. aid wasn’t being given to foreign military units guilty of human-rights abuses. According to Politico, Friedman responded by sending out an email to colleagues saying the new guidelines should not apply to Israel. “Israel is a democracy whose army does not engage in gross violations of human rights,” he was quoted as writing, adding that it “would be against [U.S.] national interests” to take any step toward limiting aid to Israel. Friedman made the remarks months before the Israeli military came under international scrutiny for killing Palestinians at the Gaza border, but his stance has renewed concerns that the Trump administration’s pro-Israel leanings may hinder Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.

Read it at Politico

R.F.K. Jr.’s Old Environmental Pals Tell Him to Get Lost

“His actions are a betrayal to our environment,” the candidate’s former mentor said of him.

Iconic Hotel From ‘The Shining’ Goes Up in Flames

Crews responded late Thursday night to an attic fire at the famous Oregon lodge.

John Cleese Cancels His Own Cancel Culture Show

The “Monty Python” star has stalled the show for three years.

Susan Sarandon Joins Protesters at Columbia University

“Especially in a place of education, and supposedly higher thought, to be attacked with racism and intolerance is not acceptable,” the actress said.

New Deets Surface on Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer’s Beef

Despite the two being bitter rivals, Sawyer also conceded, “We spent a lot of time laughing and forging a real friendship.”

Stock Slips After Netflix Stops Sharing Subscriber Numbers

Despite a strong first quarter, investors were seemingly rattled by the company’s decision to stop reporting their favorite metric.

A D.C. ‘Skinny’ Home Is Listed for $600K—It’s 6 Feet Wide

A change in zoning laws forced the owners to put their building plans on a serious diet.

Ethics Panel Wants to Know if Gaetz Got High at Parties: ABC

The House committee has reportedly obtained a woman’s statement claiming the Republican attended an event where drugs were present.

Report: Trump’s Envoy to Israel Sought to Block Scrutiny of Country’s Military Aid

Ronen Zvulun/Reuters