washington u.s. senate thursday narrowly confirm president donald trump nominee ambassador israel david friedman outspoken bankruptcy lawyer align israeli right vote 52 46 almost exclusively along party line two democrats senators robert menendez joe manchin join trump fellow republicans back friedman amount opposition highly unusual nominee u.s. ambassador israel close ally unite state decades nominees democratic republican presidents approve without objection via unanimous consent voice vote friedman diplomatic experience longtime friend trump work republican former new york businessman bankruptcy lawyer addition invest settlements land claim palestinians friedman favor move u.s. embassy tel aviv jerusalem relocation strongly oppose many u.s. ally israel palestinians claim city capital friedman also know use inflammatory language political disagreements describe former president barack obama anti-semitic democrats say approach could risk security volatile region ambassador kind person use language fuel violence hate instability democratic senator brian schatz say senate floor final confirmation vote trump selection friedman reflect shift policy toward israel years friction obama israeli leader benjamin netanyahu unlike obama trump waver u.s. commitment two-state solution long bedrock washington middle east policy back embassy relocation friedman approve senate foreign relations committee also largely along party line republican senator bob corker panel chairman praise impassioned advocate strong u.s.-israeli tie understand complexity issue stake unite state necessity support democratic ally important unstable part world corker say thursday vote mean trump ambassador place time next week annual conference washington powerful pro-israel lobby group aipac senate confirm trump nominee israel envoy