Biden selects ex-Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew as Israel’s Ambassador.

President Joe Biden Nominates Jacob Lew as U.S. Ambassador to Israel

President Joe Biden⁢ has announced his nomination of former Secretary⁢ of the Treasury Jacob Lew to serve as the next U.S. ⁣ambassador to Israel.​ If ⁣confirmed by the Senate, Lew will take on‌ the role amid a politically complicated U.S.–Israel relationship.

Lew, a New ‌York attorney who previously served as Treasury secretary under ‌President Barack Obama, ⁢would succeed Ambassador Tom Nides. Nides bid farewell to the position over the summer ​after serving for two ‌years.

“Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Jacob J. Lew ⁣to serve as‍ Ambassador⁣ Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to⁣ the State⁤ of Israel,” the White House said in a statement.

Challenges and Opportunities

The nomination comes at a critical time ​as the Biden administration faces challenges in the U.S.–Israel‌ relationship. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is pushing for a judicial overhaul that the Biden‌ administration opposes.

Furthermore, ​the United States is working towards securing diplomatic ‌relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, two major Middle‍ East ​powers and longtime rivals. A formal normalization agreement between the two countries​ could have significant regional implications. However, achieving such a deal is complex, as Saudi Arabia has stated that it will not officially recognize Israel until there is a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Trump administration previously facilitated ‍the “Abraham Accords,” which normalized relations between Israel and the⁣ United ​Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco.

Support and Opposition

Lew’s ‍nomination has received mixed reactions, with⁣ some Republicans⁤ expressing concern about his⁤ appointment as envoy to Israel. Rep. Claudia Tenney ​(R-N.Y.) wrote a⁤ letter to President ‌Biden, urging him to reconsider the ‍nomination ⁣and ⁣emphasizing⁢ the need for an⁣ ambassador who can strengthen the bond between the United States and Israel.

The ⁤joint ‍letter, signed⁢ by eight members ​of‍ Congress, highlighted concerns about Lew’s support for the Iran nuclear deal, which was‌ terminated by President Trump in 2018.

Israeli⁣ Foreign Minister Eli Cohen,⁤ on ​the other hand, congratulated Lew on his appointment and expressed eagerness to work together.

Experience and Expertise

Jacob Lew currently serves as a managing partner at‍ private equity firm ‌Lindsay Goldberg and a ⁢visiting professor ‌at Columbia University. He brings extensive experience in international relations and has held ⁤various leadership positions, including chairman of the board of the National Committee on United States-China Relations and co-president​ of the board‍ of the ⁣National Library of Israel ⁤USA.

As the nomination ⁣process unfolds, Lew’s expertise and understanding of ⁤the ​intricacies of‌ international relations will be crucial ‌in navigating the challenges⁤ and opportunities in the U.S.–Israel relationship.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.