Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz denied Tuesday that she had said Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren called Republican policies "dangerous" for Israel, in an interview with Fox News.
"Unfortunately, that comment was reported by a conservative newspaper--not surprising that they would deliberately misquote me," Wasserman Schultz said.
The Washington Examiner reported Tuesday that the DNC chair told attendees at a event for Jewish Democrats, "We know, and I’ve heard no less than Ambassador Michael Oren say this, that what the Republicans are doing is dangerous for Israel."
Oren responded Tuesday with a statement denying the alleged comments.
"I categorically deny that I ever characterized Republican policies as harmful to Israel. Bipartisan support is a paramount national interest for Israel, and we have great friends on both sides of the aisle," Oren said in the statement.
Full transcript:
SHEPHERD SMITH: The Israeli ambassador to the United States today called out the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee and categorically denied that he ever said republican policies were bad for Israel. The back and forth began yesterday when the chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the congresswoman from Florida, criticized the Republican attacks on the president over Israel. She told a group of people at the DNC, "We know and I’ve heard no less than ambassador Michael Oren say this, that what the Republicans are doing is dangerous for Israel." Earlier today, Ambassador Oren issued a statement denying that he had ever called Republican policies dangerous for Israel and that his nation has friends in both the United States political parties. As I mentioned, Debbie Wasserman Schultz is with us. He says he didn't say that.
DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: And I didn't say he said that. Unfortunately, that comment was reported by a conservative newspaper--not surprising that they would deliberately misquote me. What I always say is that unfortunately, the Republicans have made Israel a political football, which is dangerous for Israel and Ambassador Oren has said that we can't ever suggest that there is any daylight between the two parties on Israel, because there isn't. And that's harmful to Israel. That's what I said and that is accurate. And we have to make sure that in America, we don't have people who put their love of party in front of their love of Israel. As the first Jewish woman to represent Florida in congress, Shepard, I take my love of Israel to work with me every day and I want to make sure that we reelect President Obama.