VP Pence hosts swearing in Amb. David Friedman
VP Pence hosts swearing in Amb. David FriedmanReuters

The management of Twitter removed from the social network the account of the new US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, after it turned out to be a fake account that did not belong to the ambassador.

Ambassador Friedman, who was sworn in March 29th and will be arriving in Israel next Monday to begin his service at the US Embassy, was a victim of a Twitter identity theft today, when a Tweet sent from a false account announced the ambassador's arrival in Israel next week and implied an imminent US Embassy move, in an apparent attempt by anonymous movers to drive a wedge between Israel and the American administration.

"I will arrive in Israel on May 15 to represent the United States as ambassador to Israel, and I hope to work from Jerusalem very soon," it said.

A few hours later, it was discovered that Friedman did not maintain this Twitter account and was removed from the social network.

The fake Tweet fueled speculation that the Trump administration may be preparing to relocate the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the Israeli capital, Jerusalem.

As a candidate in the 2016 presidential election, Trump pledged to implement the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act and relocate the US Embassy to Jerusalem and to formally recognize the city as the undivided capital of the State of Israel.

Since taking office, however, Trump has remained mum on whether he will fulfill his campaign pledge.

Friedman, who maintains a residence in Jerusalem, had requested to work out of either his home office or the US Consulate in Jerusalem, a request reportedly denied by State Department officials.

Senior US officials reported last week that while Friedman would reside in Jerusalem, and not in the official Ambassador’s Residence in Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv, he would be working out of the Tel Aviv Embassy until a final decision on the embassy move was made.

After his arrival on Monday, Friedman will present his credentials to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who will officially receive him as America’s ambassador to the Jewish state.