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The Times of Israel

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the Jewish people worldwide

Founding editor:
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Topic: secretary of defense

February 17, 2013
7:31 pm

Former Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, President Obama's choice for defense secretary, testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 31 (photo credit: AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

GOP foe calls for Hagel to be given Senate vote

‘I don’t believe he’s qualified, but we shouldn’t hold up the nomination any longer,’ says Sen. John McCain

February 2, 2013
2:04 am

Republican Chuck Hagel, US President Barack Obama's choice for defense secretary, testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. (photo credit: AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

How Hagel won the Armed Services Committee hearing

He stuttered through eight hours of grilling, but senators were grandstanding rather than raising issues of substance

By Haviv Rettig Gur

January 22, 2013
12:42 am

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu listening as President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting in Washington in March 2012 (photo credit: AP/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

‘Netanyahu-Obama relationship must be healed’

US Jewish leader: Obama’s reported statement about Israel’s ‘best interests’ was ‘payback’ for Netanyahu’s alleged support for Romney

By Haviv Rettig Gur

January 7, 2013
4:32 pm

US President Barack Obama (center) nominates former senator Chuck Hagel (second from left) as the new defense secretary. (photo credit: image capture from White House live feed)

Obama nominates Hagel as new defense secretary

US president calls former Nebraska governor ‘the leader our troops deserve’; says America strongest when it stands ‘with its allies and friends’

By AP and Times of Israel staff

January 5, 2013
5:00 am

Then-Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and Sen. Chuck Hagel tour the citadel in Amman, Jordan, in July 2008. (photo credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Hagel may be nominated as US defense secretary next week

Former Republican senator said by critics to have an ‘endemic hostility towards Israel’ is the front-runner for the top Pentagon post

By AP and Haviv Rettig Gur

December 28, 2012
9:53 pm

Sen. Chuck Hagel at the Forum on the Law of the Sea Convention in Washington, D.C., on May 9, 2012. (photo credit: Glenn Fawcett/Department of Defense)

How the Hagel nomination battle became a fight over the Israel lobby

Many Democrats want a Democrat for defense secretary. Many Republicans are angered by Chuck Hagel’s political independence. And most senators disagree with his policy positions. Yet his supporters insistently frame opposition to Hagel’s nomination as the pernicious agitation of a hardline Israel lobby

By Haviv Rettig Gur

December 25, 2012
8:57 am

Michele Flournoy, right, with secretary of Defense Leon Panetta at her farewell gathering in January 2012. (photo credit: Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo/ Department of Defense)

As Hagel’s star withers, will a blunt-talking policy wonk drop her kids to take the Pentagon?

Michele Flournoy has been touted by conservatives, Israel supporters, women’s rights activists and Democrats for the US defense secretary post. But does she even want the job?

By Haviv Rettig Gur

December 22, 2012
12:28 am

Chuck Hagel arrives at Camp Ramadi, in central Iraq, for a short visit with US servicemen, July 22, 2008. (photo credit: courtesy United States Marine Corps)

Top House Democrat: Hagel has an ‘endemic hostility towards Israel’

From the web Eliot Engel latest to express deep concerns about possible defense secretary, Foreign Policy reports

December 21, 2012
1:52 am

Chuck Hagel arrives at Camp Ramadi, in central Iraq, for a short visit with US servicemen, July 22, 2008. (photo credit: courtesy United States Marine Corps)

Senior former officials — including ambassadors to Israel — support Hagel appointment

A group of former top-ranking US diplomats insists few are ‘more qualified, more non-partisan, more courageous or better equipped to head the Department of Defense’

By Haviv Rettig Gur

December 19, 2012
1:36 am

Sen. Chuck Hagel at the Forum on the Law of the Sea Convention in Washington, D.C., on May 9, 2012. (photo credit: Glenn Fawcett/Department of Defense)

Opposition to Hagel appointment unites pro-Israel advocates, women’s groups, Republicans

‘Jewish lobby’ comment, suggestion to negotiate with Hamas, objection to labeling Hezbollah a terrorist organization dog Defense candidate

By Haviv Rettig Gur

December 16, 2012
7:35 am

Former senator Chuck Hagel (left) shakes hands with Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta in May 2012. (photo credit: CC BY Glenn Fawcett, DoD, Flickr)

Ahead of likely nomination, Chuck Hagel’s record worries some Israel supporters

From the web Presumptive pick for defense secretary has been critical of ‘Jewish lobby’ in Washington; pushed Obama to support Fatah-Hamas unity, Politico reports