The Senate confirmed Jack Lew, Barack Obama’s former secretary of the Treasury, as the new U.S. ambassador to Israel on Tuesday.
Although Republicans voiced opposition to Lew’s appointment over his involvement with the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, the Senate ultimately confirmed Lew in a 53–43 vote. As Treasury secretary, Lew “granted a specific license that authorized a conversion of Iranian assets worth billions of U.S. dollars using the U.S. financial system,” a 2018 Senate report found.
“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,” Senator Eric Schmitt (R., Mo.) said on X.
Since July 21, an acting U.S. foreign-service officer has been in charge of the embassy in Jerusalem. Senator Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) voted to confirm Lew, who has also served as special assistant to the president’s office under the Clinton administration, despite “legitimate concerns” about Lew’s tenure as Treasury secretary. Graham and Senator Rand Paul (R., Ky.) were the only Republicans to vote for Lew.
“I know from my recent travel to Israel that it is imperative the United States immediately have an ambassador in place,” Graham said. “Israel’s back is against the wall and time is of the essence. Now more than ever, the United States needs an ambassador in Israel. The leaders I spoke with in the Israeli government both knew and were comfortable with Mr. Lew serving in this position.”
Senator Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) joined Schmitt in calling Lew an “Iran sympathizer who has no business being our ambassador.”
“There’s no clear or more immediate action that senators could take to show a new direction for U.S. policy on Iran than to reject the nomination of one of the architects of the Iran nuclear deal with the United States and Israel,” Cotton said on Tuesday. “Both the United States and Israel deserve a lot better than Jack Lew, I urge my colleagues to oppose the nomination.”
As Hamas continues to wage war against Israel, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said filling the ambassador position is crucial.
“With everything happening in Israel right now, confirming Jack Lew at this moment will be one of the most important and consequential nomination votes the Senate has taken in a long time,” Schumer said. “Lew has a strong, long, proven record as a public servant and ferocious ally of Israel, and it will help send a powerful message of support to Israel to have this appointment filled ASAP.”