Biden's pick to be ambassador to Israel tells senators he'll ensure the US ally 'has what it needs'
(18 Oct 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
POOL
Washington, DC - 18 October 2023
1. Wide Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing confirmation hearing
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ben Cardin, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman:
"I cannot overstate the urgency for the United States to have a confirmed ambassador on the ground to help deliver U.S. support for Israel, to deal with the hostage situation, to deal with the humanitarian needs that we know exist. We need an ambassador who at this critical and delicate time can speak with authority and engage diplomatically in the region at the highest level. Secretary Lew's experience, gravitas, and political acumen makes him eminently qualified to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Israel."
3. Medium cutaway of Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ben Cardin, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman:
"Hamas has started a war given the dangerous state of emergency that Israel faces. The United States needs a confirmed U.S. ambassador in Jerusalem."
5. Medium cutaway of Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Jim Risch, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member:
"Secretary Lew, I have reservations on your appointment as America's ambassador to Israel. Not only will you need to support Israel as it responds to these attacks, but also as it can, as it contends with the enduring and indeed existential Iranian threat, which I think is an underlying and foundational issue here. I have reservations about your ability to do that."
7. Medium cutaway of hearing
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Jim Risch, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member:
"To me, this whole thing's about Iran. And holding hands with Iran under the table doesn't work for me. And I'm deeply disappointed that you issued that license. Deeply disappointed that you didn't tell us about it. Deeply disappointed that you misled us in July when we had that meeting. And my time is up, Mr. Chairman. I yield underwhelmed and unpersuaded."
9. Cutaway of hearing
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Jacob J. Lew, Ambassador to Israel Nominee, Former United States Secretary of the Treasury:
"At this moment, there is no greater mission than to be asked to strengthen the ties between the United States and Israel, to work toward peace in a region that has known so much war and destruction. The savage attack demands the common condemnation of the world. And President Biden has made clear that the United States stands with Israel in its efforts to defend itself. I will do my utmost to end the horrific attacks by Hamas and ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself."
11. Cutaway of hearing
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Jacob J. Lew, Ambassador to Israel Nominee, Former United States Secretary of the Treasury:
"I want to be clear Iran is a threat to regional stability and to Israel's existence. If confirmed, I will uphold President Biden's commitment to deny Iran a nuclear weapon and warning to the region that anyone who's thinking of taking advantage of the current crisis, don't."
13. Cutaway of hearing
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ben Cardin, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman:
"Tell me a little bit about your view as to how you keep these normalization discussions alive during a time of war?"
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Jacob J. Lew, Ambassador to Israel Nominee, Former United States Secretary of the Treasury:
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Pete Ricketts (R) Nebraska:
"Do you believe that the Biden administration should continue to restart the JCPOA talks?"
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