[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 179 (Tuesday, October 31, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5240-S5241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Nomination of Jacob J. Lew

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I come to the floor today in support of 
Jacob Lew to be our Ambassador to Israel. We will have a chance to vote 
on that in a few moments, first on cloture and then, hopefully, on the 
confirmation, with the cloture being imposed.
  The attack by Hamas on Israel earlier this month was heinous. It was 
evil. It was indescribably brutal.
  I was just in Israel with 10 Senators--5 Democrats, 5 Republicans--
and saw firsthand the scars and devastation. I saw the grief and the 
shock. We were there to make it clear that Israel has the right to 
defend itself; it has the obligation to defend itself.
  We recognize that the ground campaign has started to eliminate Hamas. 
Hamas is evil. They are equivalent to ISIS and maybe, in some cases, 
worse. Israel's security depends upon the demise of Hamas, as does the 
Palestinians' future in Gaza depend upon Hamas being eliminated.
  We have ongoing challenges. Two hundred-plus hostages are being held 
by Hamas. Their safe return is one of our highest priorities. We are 
all working very hard. President Biden has made it clear with the 
positioning of U.S. assets, as well as his engagement in the Middle 
East to prevent the escalation of this conflict. For those enemies of 
the United States and Israel trying to take advantage of the combat in 
Gaza to escalate the conflict, we have to make sure that does not 
happen.
  We have a real challenge with the humanitarian assistance to the 
Palestinians in Gaza who are trying to escape the brutality of Hamas. 
We are now fortunate that we are able to start getting humanitarian 
trucks into Gaza. We hope to be at about 100 trucks a day through the 
Rafah gate. More is needed. We need to provide for the medical needs 
and safe passage for Palestinians trying to avoid the conflict. All of 
this is made much more difficult because of Hamas.

[[Page S5241]]

  These challenges require a U.S. partnership. We need a confirmed 
ambassador. We need to work together on operations. We need to work 
together on tactics. We need to work together on strategy with Israel. 
It is so much more difficult for us to be able to do that without a 
confirmed ambassador in Jerusalem.
  How are we going to diplomatically engage at the highest levels in 
the region if we don't have a confirmed ambassador? It makes it much 
more difficult. Who is going to lead our mission to help the more than 
half a million American citizens who live in Israel? It is made much 
more difficult without a confirmed ambassador.
  I want to make it clear that our Charge d'Affaires in Jerusalem, 
Stephanie Hallett, is doing a phenomenal job, as are the men and women 
of our mission in Jerusalem. And they deserve our thanks, our 
appreciation for being on the frontline to represent America's 
interest. There is no question about their loyalty and their dedication 
to the mission. The U.S. team at Mission Israel is the best in the 
field, but that is no substitute for a confirmed ambassador.
  Jacob Lew is eminently qualified to serve in this post. He has 
extensive experience. He has the political acumen that we need for our 
Ambassador at this time. He has the respect of the Israeli officials.
  The Foreign Minister tweeted that they look forward to working with 
Jack Lew in ``the spirit of our close cooperation and alliance.''
  The Jerusalem Post said:

       Jack Lew is a worthy nominee and a mensch.

  Support for his nomination ranges from the Orthodox Union Advocacy 
Center to the Anti-Defamation League.
  Last week, he advanced out of the Foreign Relations Committee on a 
bipartisan vote. I want to thank my colleagues who worked so hard to 
get him through the committee.
  Of course, this would not be the first time that Secretary Lew has 
had the support of the Senate. He has been nominated for a number of 
positions, and this body has confirmed him with overwhelming support in 
the past.
  Now, with Israel at war, with Hamas holding hostages in their tunnels 
in Gaza, with the entire world watching, given the stakes of the 
situation, given that Israel is fighting to defend itself, given that 
American lives are at risk, we cannot afford any delay. Israel cannot 
afford a delay.
  Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support cloture on Jack Lew's 
nomination so we can get the confirmation vote without delay. I hope 
that you will support these efforts.
  I yield the floor.