David Melech Friedman (born August 8, 1958, in New York City) is an American bankruptcy and real estate attorney, diplomat, and close advisor on Middle East policy who served as U.S. Ambassador to Israel from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. A close ally of Donald Trump and a staunch supporter of Israeli settlements—previously involved in Adelson-funded settlements—he is a long-time associate of the Adelson family. He earned a BA from Columbia University (1980) and a JD from New York Law School (1983). He joined the firm Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman in 1994, rising to senior partner, where he first represented Donald Trump and the Trump Organization, forging a close personal and professional relationship. An Orthodox Jew with strong pro-Israel views, Friedman served as co-chair of Trump's Israel advisory committee during the 2016 campaign and was nominated as ambassador despite lacking traditional diplomatic experience and facing criticism for inflammatory statements. He is also a co-founder of the Republican Jewish Coalition. His tenure was marked by pivotal actions advancing Trump's Middle East agenda: relocating the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (May 2018), recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights (March 2019), and brokering the Abraham Accords normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab nations. His support for Israeli settlements and perceived bias drew controversy and allegations of undermining Palestinian peace efforts. Post-ambassadorship, he returned to private practice, remains active in conservative circles, authored the book 'Ambassador Friedman: How I Saved the Abraham Accords' (2023), and occasionally appears as a media commentator on foreign policy. He is married with children, though personal details remain private.