Friedman says Trump wants Israel to ‘lean in,’ not pay higher price

The Jewish Insider has more details of David Friedman’s call with the American Jewish Congress, including the envoy clarifying Trump’s comments about Israel paying a higher price in peace talks:

“The president feels that if the parties are lucky enough to be sitting in a room and making progress, he might say to the Israelis, ‘Look, can you do a little bit more? Look what we did for you. Is there’s something more that you could do?’ It’s not that he has something specific in mind, but just that under the circumstances that the United States has engaged in really significant good faith efforts to strengthen Israel and strengthen its historical multi-thousand-year connection to Jerusalem, maybe the Israelis could make it clear by leaning in a little bit as well”

Friedman also said Trump is more popular in Israel than anywhere else, including the US.

“If his popularity rating were this high in the United States I don’t think the Democrats would even field a candidate,” he’s quoted saying.