Senator Ted Cruz
Senator Ted CruzReuters

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Friday blasted the leadership of the Palestinian Authority (PA) over its continued insults of U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.

“The Palestinians continue to slander Ambassador David Friedman, who instead deserves tremendous praise for honorably representing the U.S.,” tweeted Cruz.

“If the PA is looking for incitement and glorification of violence, they need only look in a mirror. They pay $400 million in monthly salaries/benefits to terrorists & their families to incentivize/reward terrorism against Israel,” he added.

Earlier this week, PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas insulted Friedman and called him the “son of a dog”.

"The United States legitimizes settlements. That's what American officials do, and at their head, in Tel Aviv, is David Friedman. He said, 'They're building on their own land.' The son of a dog, they're building on their own land? He himself is a settler, and his entire family are settlers," said Abbas who spoke in Ramallah.

The PA did not stop there, however, and is now calling for the American ambassador to Israel to be placed on an international terror watch list.

Following Abbas’ verbal assault, Friedman responded to the PA chairman and said, "Three Jews were killed in cold blood by the Palestinian terrorists, and the reaction from the Palestinian Authority was deafening. No condemnation whatsoever. I pointed that out, without further adjectives, without further commentary."

"Abu Mazen chose to respond. ... His response was to refer to me as the 'son of a dog.' Anti-Semitism, or political discourse? Not for me to judge. I'll leave that all up to you."

Jason Greenblatt, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Special Representative for International Negotiations, also denounced Abbas.

“The time has come for President Abbas to choose between hateful rhetoric and concrete and practical efforts to improve the quality of life of his people and lead them to peace and prosperity,” he said.

“Notwithstanding his inappropriate insults against Ambassador Friedman, we are committed to the Palestinian people and to the changes that must be implemented for peaceful coexistence. We are finalizing our plan for peace and we will advance it when circumstances are right,” added Greenblatt.

(Arutz Sheva’s North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)