Jack Lew approved as next US envoy to Israel in confirmation fast-tracked by war
Two GOP senators vote with Democrats in favor of ex-treasury chief, who will take charge of American mission in Jerusalem in wake of Hamas onslaught on October 7
The US Senate voted Tuesday to confirm the nomination of former treasury secretary Jack Lew to become the next US ambassador to Israel.
The 53-43 vote was largely along party lines, with two Republicans — Rand Paul and Lindsey Graham — joining 51 Democrats in backing US President Joe Biden’s nominee.
Lew, 68, was nominated in September, when it was believed that he could play a key role in getting US-brokered talks with Saudi Arabia on normalizing ties with Israel over the finish line.
But Lew’s portfolio was undoubtedly altered after Hamas’s October 7 terror onslaught, and he will now be working closely with Israel as Washington tries to steer Jerusalem through its war against Hamas, balancing between the administration’s goals of seeing the terror group toppled, limiting civilian casualties, securing the release of the hostages and advancing a post-war strategy aimed at revitalizing a two-state solution.
Lew’s confirmation comes as Biden enjoys high levels of support in Israel for the backing he expressed during the early days of the war, though US pressure is expected to intensify as Palestinian casualties further mount, forcing the ambassador-designate to have to deliver tough messages from the president that may not play well with the Israeli government.
In floor remarks ahead of Tuesday’s vote, lawmakers from both parties cited the urgency of the moment in making their cases. Democrats noted Lew’s close ties to Israel, while Republicans argued his work on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal made him a poor choice when Iranian proxy groups are engaging in direct combat with Israel.
Lew, who also served as US president Barack Obama’s chief of staff before leading the Treasury Department, has received support from Jewish leaders in Washington who touted his experience in public office and as a negotiator, his involvement in Jewish life and his close relationship with Jewish organizations.
He earned a reputation for resolving complex negotiations during his two stints as director of the Office of Management and Budget under Obama as well as president Bill Clinton. He has spoken publicly about balancing his Orthodox observance with government work and has encouraged young observant Jews to go into public service.
“At this time in the US-Israel relationship, it’s as important as it has been since the 1990s that we have a high-level individual [as ambassador] who is a direct representative of the president and who is respected internationally and on both sides of the aisle here at home,” a senior administration official told The Times of Israel in September, explaining the decision to nominate Lew.
“As a former treasury secretary and chief of staff — not to mention all the other great qualities Mr. Lew brings to the office — there’s no one better,” the official continued. “When every word matters, when every meeting matters, and when it’s important for the president to be heard crystal clear in Jerusalem, there is no greater public servant who has more credibility on the issues and a record of accomplishment than Mr. Lew.”
Lew’s confirmation was welcomed by Stephanie Hallett, who has been serving as the US Embassy in Jerusalem’s chargé d’Affaires since Tom Nides stepped down in July to spend more time with his family back in America, after leading the mission for 20 months
Nides later took a job as vice chairman at Wells Fargo as the bank’s vice chairman.
But on Friday, the firm announced that Nides had resigned after just over one month “to return his attention to events in the Middle East.”
“Watching the horrific events unfold in Israel and Gaza these past few weeks have had a profound effect on me, in ways that I could not have imagined. While my tenure as Ambassador ended a few short months ago, I now feel an obligation to turn my attention back to the region, and continue to provide whatever assistance I can, outside of an official government role, to help find solutions for the people living there,” Nides said in a statement.
The former ambassador said he will work with the UJA Federation in New York as well as several Middle East organizations “to bring whatever expertise I can, immediately.”
