Senate confirms Jack Lew as next ambassador to Israel

The Senate on Tuesday voted to confirm Jack Lew as the next U.S. ambassador to Israel, sending him to Jerusalem at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions in the region as Israel wages war against the Gaza-based Hamas terrorist group.

The chamber voted 53-43 to confirm the former Treasury Secretary, according to The Hill. Two Republicans sided with the Democrats to install Lew in the position. Republican objections largely stemmed from Lew's time in the Obama administration, during which he was involved in the Iran nuclear deal.

While the post has been empty since July, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee only advanced Lew's nomination last week.

"Mr. Lew is the right man for the job of ambassador to Israel. He’s a capable public servant, a fierce ally to Israel and commands a broad base of trust and respect, and he is a decent and humane man," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said after the vote. "When my colleagues and I met with the Israeli government, we promised to send them an ambassador as soon as possible. And today the Senate has kept that promise."

Lew's confirmation, however, cleared only one item off of the legislature's Israel agenda. President Joe Biden has requested that Congress approve a sweeping security package linking aid to Israel amid the ongoing conflict to support for Ukraine and its war with Russia.

Republicans in the House have put forward legislation to solely provide aid to Israel and match the expenditure with cuts to the Internal Revenue Service, a move certain to rattle upper chamber Democrats and potentially jeopardize the appropriation of funds for Jerusalem altogether.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.