Senate to commence confirmation process for Biden’s Israel envoy amidst ongoing conflict.
Former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew Faces Opposition as Nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Israel
Former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is set to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on October 18th for a hearing regarding his nomination as the U.S. Ambassador to Israel. This nomination has faced criticism from Hamas and Hezbollah in recent weeks.
President Joe Biden announced Mr. Lew’s nomination on September 5th. If confirmed, Mr. Lew would succeed Tom Nides, who concluded his ambassadorship on July 21st.
Republicans are already expressing concerns about Mr. Lew’s nomination.
“As Obama’s Treasury Secretary, Jack Lew was a key figure in the disastrous Iran Nuclear Deal. Iran is the chief sponsor of Hamas. Jack Lew has no business being the US Ambassador to Israel,” Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) posted on X, formerly Twitter, on October 16th.
“Jack Lew, Biden’s nominee to be USAMB to Israel, was the key point man in negotiations & disinfo campaign for Obama’s dangerously flawed deal with Iran. The consequences are felt today as Iran—flush with cash due to Biden’s push to revive the deal at any cost—has fueled carnage in Israel,” posted Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) on X on October 12th. “Lew must answer for the failed Obama-Biden Middle East strategy as he appears before the Senate Foreign Relations committee for his confirmation hearing next week.”
“Jack Lew is an Iran sympathizer who has no business being our ambassador,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) told Fox News on October 15th. “It’s bad for the United States, it’s bad for Israel to have an Iran sympathizer as our ambassador to that country. He helped Iran evade American sanctions, and he lied to Congress about it.”
Mr. Lew, as the head of the Treasury under President Barack Obama, defended the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, which provided Iran with billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for limitations on its nuclear weapons program.
One month before the final agreement was reached in 2015, Mr. Lew defended the Obama administration’s pursuit of a nuclear accord with Iran.
“We know that Iran has historically told the international community one thing while doing something very different. And since the outset of our negotiations, we have abided by a critical principle: distrust and verify,” he said at a conference hosted by The Jerusalem Post. “So through painstaking verification, we have made sure that the Iranians are keeping their commitments—allowing us to continue the talks knowing that Iran was not simply using negotiations as a form of smoke and mirrors.”
“The framework we have established paves the way for an international agreement between Iran and America, Britain, France, Germany, the EU, Russia, and China to prevent Iran from obtaining the most dangerous type of weapon the world has ever known,” Mr. Lew said. “The region and the world will be a more dangerous place if we fail, and a nuclear-armed Iran would be a more menacing supporter of terrorist groups and destabilizing regional forces.”
According to him, “A diplomatic solution is the best, most enduring path to achieve our goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”
After the Iran deal was reached, Mr. Lew continued to advocate for it.
“Since the goal of sanctions is to pressure bad actors to change their policy, we must be prepared to provide relief from sanctions when they succeed,” he said at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “If we fail to follow through, we undermine our own credibility and damage our ability to use sanctions to drive policy change. … Since Iran has kept its end of the deal, it is our responsibility to uphold ours in both letter and spirit.”
Mr. Lew’s confirmation hearing comes at a time when Israel is defending itself against attacks launched by Hamas on October 7th.
As of now, over 4,000 people, including at least 30 U.S. citizens, have been killed. In response, Israel has conducted airstrikes on Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, and has targeted Hezbollah and IRGC locations north of Israel. The Jewish state has vowed to eliminate Hamas.
Given the critical situation in Israel, Senate Democrats are urging for Mr. Lew to be sent to Jerusalem.
“There’s no time to waste. Israel is in critical need of a Senate-confirmed U.S. ambassador, and nominee Jack Lew is ready to serve. As we return to session tomorrow, it’s a high priority to get his nomination advanced quickly,” Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, posted on X on October 15th.
“For the U.S. to be without an ambassador to Israel at this critical moment would be a terrible mistake. Jack Lew is highly qualified and should be confirmed quickly,” posted Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) on X on October 11th.
“Our nation needs a confirmed Ambassador to Israel. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I look forward to voting to advance Jack Lew‘s nomination next week and working to fill other vacancies in the region as soon as possible,” Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) posted on X.
How do terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah justify their opposition to Jack Lew’s nomination as U.S. Ambassador to Israel?
Secretary, Jack Lew played a key role in negotiating the Iran nuclear deal, which Republicans vehemently opposed,” said Senator Ted Cruz. ”His involvement in such a controversial and flawed agreement raises serious concerns about his judgment and ability to effectively represent the United States in Israel.”
Senator Cruz is not alone in his opposition to Mr. Lew’s nomination. Several other Republican senators have also voiced their objections, citing concerns over his stance on the Iran deal and his support for the Obama administration’s policies towards Israel.
In addition to Republican opposition, Mr. Lew’s nomination has faced criticism from terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Both organizations have condemned the nomination and expressed their opposition to any U.S. representative in Israel.
Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, issued a statement calling Mr. Lew “a staunch supporter of Israel’s oppressive policies” and accused him of being “biased against the Palestinian cause.” Hezbollah, a Lebanese-based militant group backed by Iran, expressed similar sentiments, describing Mr. Lew as ”a symbol of American imperialism in the region.”
Despite the opposition, President Biden stands by his decision to nominate Mr. Lew as Ambassador to Israel. In a recent press conference, President Biden praised Mr. Lew’s experience and expertise, stating that he is ”uniquely qualified” for the role.
“Jack Lew has a deep understanding of the challenges facing Israel and the broader Middle East region,” said President Biden. “His knowledge and experience will be invaluable as we work to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship and promote peace and stability in the region.”
President Biden’s nomination of Mr. Lew comes at a critical time for U.S.-Israel relations. The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas has strained the relationship, and both sides are seeking a path towards peace and stability.
If confirmed, Mr. Lew will have a challenging task ahead of him. He will need to rebuild trust and foster a productive relationship with Israeli leaders while also addressing the concerns and grievances of the Palestinian people.
Overall, the opposition to Mr. Lew’s nomination reflects the deep divisions and complexities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is a conflict that has spanned decades and defied easy solutions.
As the Senate Judiciary Committee prepares to hold hearings on Mr. Lew’s nomination, the debate over his suitability for the role of U.S. Ambassador to Israel will continue. Ultimately, it will be up to the Senate to decide whether to confirm Mr
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