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☆ Biden's pick for Israel envoy faces tough questions from senators on Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — Jacob Lew, President Joe Biden's nominee for ambassador to Israel, defended his handling of Iran policy in the Obama administration on Wednesday at his Senate confirmation hearing. "This whole thing is about Iran," said Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee. As Treasury secretary under former President Barack Obama, Lew played a key role in formulating the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Several Republicans suggested that Lew had effectively opened the door to grant Iran access to the mainstream banking system. If he were confirmed, Lew said, he would uphold Biden's commitment to deny Iran a nuclear weapon.

Persons: Jack Lew, WASHINGTON — Jacob Lew, Joe Biden's, Obama, Sen, James Risch, Barack Obama, Lew, Donald Trump Organizations: U.S, Treasury, Foreign, Capitol, D.C, Foreign Relations, Republicans, Democratic, CNBC Locations: Israel, Capitol Hill, Washington, Iran, Idaho, U.S

Pro-Israel demonstrators protest in Times Square on the second day of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Manhattan in New York City, U.S., October 8, 2023. Thursday's protest in Times Square, organized by the nonprofit Israeli American Council, was expected to draw hundreds of demonstrators and many officials, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Plans call for 15 billboards in Times Square to show the faces of people believed to be held hostages and Israeli flags. Ceasefire is the only way to bring hostages home," organizers of Friday's New York rally said on their event page. His administration, facing mounting pressure to secure the release of the hostages, must walk a fine line.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jim Risch, Risch, Eric Adams, Biden, Rachel Goldberg, Hersh Goldberg, Goldberg, Adrienne Neta, Chen, Itay Chen, Jonathan Allen, Gabriella Borter, Patricia Zengerle, Frank McGurty, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Israel, Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, Protesters, Republican, Senate Foreign Relations, Israeli American Council, New York City, Public, Cannon, U.S . Capitol, Friday's, Israel Defense Force, Thomson Locations: Israel, Manhattan, New York City, U.S, New, New York, York, Gaza, Qatar, Jerusalem . U.S, Washington

The attacks prompted Israel to launch an intensive bombing campaign against the Gaza Strip, which is governed by Hamas. “I cannot remember a time when Israel’s struggle for security was not at the forefront of my mind,” Mr. Lew said. If confirmed, I will uphold President Biden’s commitment to deny Iran a nuclear weapon.”But his declarations did little to deter Republican senators. Senator John Barrasso, Republican of Wyoming, accused Mr. Lew of acting as the Iranian government’s banker by negotiating deals to release funds in exchange for American prisoners. “Preventing this from becoming a multifront war is hugely important for Israel, for the region, for the world,” he said.

Persons: Jacob J, Lew, Biden’s, Biden, Obama, Jim Risch of, Lew of, Lew’s, —, Chuck Schumer, Israel, Thomas R, Nides, Schumer, “, Mr, ” Mr, fides, Marco Rubio, John Barrasso, Barrasso, ” Organizations: Senate Foreign Relations, Israel, Hamas, Republican, Foreign Relations, Mr, Jewish, Investigations, State Department Locations: Israel, Gaza, Jim Risch of Idaho, Iran, United States, Florida, Oman, Tehran, Wyoming, Iranian, U.S, Saudi Arabia

NEW YORK (AP) — Four defendants in the criminal bribery case against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez pleaded not guilty Wednesday in New York City to a revised indictment alleging that the senator, his wife and a third defendant conspired to use him as an agent of the Egyptian government. The defendants entering the pleas included his wife, Nadine Menendez, and a businessman, Wael Hana. The earlier indictment charged Menendez and his wife with participating in a bribery conspiracy by accepting bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen who wanted the senator's help and influence over foreign affairs. The new charge against the trio alleges that they conspired to take a series of steps on behalf of Egypt, including for Egyptian military and intelligence officials, from January 2018 to June 2022. In a statement last week, Menendez said he will “show my innocence” at trial.

Persons: U.S . Sen, Bob Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Hana, Menendez, Sidney H, Stein, Daniel Richenthal, Lawrence Lustberg, ” Lustberg, Richenthal, Lustberg, Prosecutors Organizations: —, U.S ., Senate Foreign, U.S Locations: New York City, Manhattan, Jersey, Egypt

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks as he visits Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 18, 2023. Multiple sources familiar with the request told Reuters on Tuesday that Biden was considering a supplemental request of about $100 billion that would include defense aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as funding for efforts to beef up security on the U.S. border with Mexico. He told a news conference he had heard that the administration was considering $10 billion for Israel. Several sources said on Wednesday that Biden has not settled on a final figure, and the breakdown has not been communicated to Congress. Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Nandita Bose; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Joe Biden's, Biden, Jim Risch, Patricia Zengerle, Nandita Bose, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Israel, Reuters, Wednesday, Republican, Senate Foreign Relations, Administration, U.S, Thomson Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Ukraine, Washington, Taiwan, U.S, Mexico

The request to Congress would cover a year, according to another person familiar with the administration’s expected request. Lew, a Treasury Secretary under former President Barack Obama, was nominated by Biden last month after former Ambassador Tom Nides left the post in July. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesThe White House could make a formal request for the foreign war aid as soon as this week. Some Republicans have criticized Lew for his role in the Obama White House as it negotiated the Iran nuclear agreement in 2015, among other foreign policy moves under Obama, and that opposition could slow his nomination. “Our ability to support Israel at this pivotal moment is significantly hamstrung by the fact that we don’t have a U.S. ambassador on the ground," Murphy said.

Persons: Jacob Lew, Joe Biden, Lew, Barack Obama, Biden, Tom Nides, —, Obama —, Ben Cardin, Jack, ”, Cardin, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Obama, Donald Trump, Republican Sen, Tom Cotton of, Jack Lew, ” Cotton, Jack Lew’s, ” Lew, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy of, Murphy, Seung Min Kim Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Israel, Hamas, Foreign, White, Management, Republicans, Republican, Hamas ’, “ Fox, Democratic, Foreign Relations, Associated Press Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, China, D, Congress, U.S, Iran, Tehran, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Gaza

☆ Biden Mulls $60 Billion for Ukraine, $10 Billion for Israel in Funding Request - Source
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Patricia ZengerleWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's administration is considering $60 billion in assistance for Ukraine and $10 billion for Israel in a supplemental spending request he will send to Congress as soon as Friday, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. Multiple sources familiar with the request told Reuters on Tuesday that Biden was considering a supplemental request of about $100 billion that would include defense aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as funding for efforts to beef up security on the U.S. border with Mexico. Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he was not aware of the $100 billion figure, except from news reports. He told a news conference he had heard that the administration was considering $10 billion for Israel. Several sources said on Wednesday that Biden has not settled on a final figure, and the breakdown has not been communicated to Congress.

Persons: Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, Joe Biden's, Biden, Jim Risch, Patricia Zengerle, Nandita Bose, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Israel, Reuters, Wednesday, Republican, Senate Foreign Relations, Administration, U.S Locations: Ukraine, Washington, Israel, Taiwan, U.S, Mexico

And as if to punctuate the tragedy and horror of the conflict, an explosion rocked a hospital in Gaza, causing hundreds of civilian casualties. "There is a significant U.S. interest here, showing strong support for Israel," which Biden did immediately after the attack and subsequently, she says. Hamas is based in Gaza, where civilian Palestinians have fought the Israeli government – Netanyahu especially – for civil and human rights. But while there are indeed Palestinians who support Hamas, not all do – and half of Gaza residents are children who are vulnerable as Israel seeks to erase Hamas forever. Biden and Netanyahu have had a chilly relationship going back to the Iran nuclear deal negotiated when Biden was vice president and which Netanyahu opposed.

Persons: Joe Biden, nudging, Biden, Biden doesn't, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jordan, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Mahmoud Abbas, Abdel Fattah el, Eileen Babbitt, Babbitt, Kamala Harris, Israel –, Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, Robert Lieberman, Israel, Lieberman, – Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Doug Schoen, Schoen, hamstrung Organizations: Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian National, White, Israel, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, Foreign, New, United Nations, Biden, Johns Hopkins University Locations: U.S, Israel, nudging Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Egypt, Afghanistan, New Jersey, American, United States, Russia, China

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden may consider a supplemental request of about $100 billion that would include defense aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, multiple sources familiar with the request told Reuters on Tuesday. Two of the sources said the request was for a full year of funding, explaining the large size. Bloomberg first reported that Biden was considering making a $100 billion request. Senator Mitch McConnell, the chamber's top Republican, said he expected the request to include assistance for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, and said Republicans want it to include "something serious" for the border. Top Biden administration officials will hold a classified briefing on Wednesday for the Senate on the situation in Israel and Gaza.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Biden, Ben Cardin, Cardin, " Cardin, ISRAEL, Kevin McCarthy, Israel, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Schumer, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Trevor Hunnicutt, David Ljunggren, Dan Whitcomb, Jonathan Oatis, David Gregorio Our Organizations: White, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Tel, Israel, Senate, Democratic, Senate Foreign Relations, Republicans, Republican, Hamas, Bloomberg, Biden, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, Washington, Tel Aviv, Amman, Jordan, Egypt, Gaza, U.S, Iran, United States

Biden's travels will be rife with security concerns, and visits by other U.S. officials have been disrupted by rocket launches into Israel. ... And if we don’t, who does?”In Israel, Biden was expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials before heading to Jordan. However, Abbas has withdrawn his planned participation because of the destruction at the hospital in Gaza. Abbas has been Palestinian president for nearly 20 years. Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed at least 2,700 people and wounded more than 9,700, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas, Biden, Jordan, Ukraine —, Joe Biden, ”, Jon Alterman, There's, ” Alterman, Biden's, Antony Blinken, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, King Abdullah II, Abdel Fattah el, it's, Netanyahu, Abdullah II, — Biden, Richard Hecht, haven’t, Josh Boak, Josef Federman, Matthew Lee Organizations: WASHINGTON, Hamas, Ministry, Palestinian, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Senate Foreign Relations, Hezbollah, Associated Press, Israel, Republicans, CBS, International Monetary Fund, Gaza Health Ministry, United Nations Locations: Israel, East, Gaza, Palestinian, Ukraine, United States, Iran, Southern Lebanon, “, The U.S, Tel Aviv, —, U.S, United States of America, Jordan, The Israel, Jordanian, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Washington, Jerusalem, Amman

☆ Democrats Want Quick Confirmation of Jack Lew as Israel Ambassador
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

), who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said America needs a confirmed ambassador to Israel as soon as possible. President Biden's nominee, Jack Lew, a former Treasury secretary and White House chief of staff during the Obama administration, is set for a confirmation hearing on Wednesday. "I will do everything I can not only to have a hearing but to move him out of committee on the floor of the United States Senate because we do need a confirmed ambassador of Israel," Cardin said Tuesday. He said he wants to "make sure that's a reality as soon as possible." Some Republicans have expressed opposition to Lew and could try to slow walk the nomination.

Persons: Sen, Ben Cardin, Biden's, Jack Lew, Obama, Cardin, Lew Organizations: Foreign Relations, White House, United States Senate Locations: Md, America, Israel

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) delivers remarks during the AIPAC convention at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, U.S., March 2, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Monday the Senate will seek within days to pass a resolution supporting Israel, approve additional funds for Israel and confirm a new U.S. ambassador to the Jewish State. "That means military assistance, intelligence assistance, diplomatic assistance and humanitarian assistance to care for innocent civilians. Schumer said he thought Senate passage of a strong pro-Israel legislation might encourage the House of Representatives to act, despite its leadership impasse. Schumer called Lew "capable and strong" and urged the committee to approve Lew as soon as possible, so the full Senate can confirm him "in all due haste."

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Tom Brenner, Schumer, Kevin McCarthy, Israel, Jack Lew, Joe Biden's, Lew, Antony Blinken, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Defense Lloyd Austin, Staff General C.Q, Brown, Patricia Zengerle, Katharine Jackson, Sandra Maler Organizations: Democratic, Washington Convention Center, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic U.S, Israel, Jewish State, Hamas, U.S . Congress, Republican, Foreign Relations, National Intelligence, Defense, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Israel, U.S, Ukraine

He had been scheduled to take a tour of CS Wind, the world’s largest facility for wind tower manufacturing. The official, who was not authorized to comment about the president's potential visit, said a final decision to visit Israel hasn't been made. Blinken was in Israel on Monday for his second visit in less than a week for talks with Israeli leaders. He has been crisscrossing the Middle East with stops in Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It’s the deadliest war for Israel since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Abdel Fattah el, Mohammed Shia, Olaf Scholz, Harris, Jeff Zients, Jake Sullivan, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Bill Burns, Israel hasn't, idled, Sissi, Antony Blinken, Blinken, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Matthew Miller, Israel, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Chuck Schumer, “, ” Schumer, Schumer, Kevin McCarthy, Jacob Lew, — Lee, Jon Gambrell, Mary Clare Jalonick Organizations: WASHINGTON, National, National Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, CS, U.S, Union, United, United Arab Emirates, Israeli, ”, “, Israel, Air, Hamas, Israeli Ministry of Defense, United States Senate, Foreign, AP Locations: Gaza, Israel, Iraqi, Pueblo , Colorado, Egypt’s, Cairo, Europe, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, Lebanon, U.S, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Washington

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) speaks to reporters while on his way to a vote following a Senate Democratic caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2023. Senator Bob Menendez on Thursday brought a new criminal charge against him that he conspired to act as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government. Prosecutors have said that co-defendant Hana arranged meetings between the senator and Egyptian officials, who pressed him to sign off on military aid. In return, the businessman put Nadine Menendez on the payroll of a company he controlled. The new indictment said both Hana and Nadine Menendez communicated requests and directives from Egyptian officials to the senator.

Persons: Bob Menendez, Craig Hudson, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Nadine, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Hana, Lawrence Lustberg, Nate Raymond, Kanishka Singh, Susan Heavey, Mark Porter, Lisa Shumaker, Grant McCool Organizations: Democratic, Capitol, REUTERS, Prosecutors, U.S, New, New Jersey Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations, U.S . Department of Justice, Foreign, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, New Jersey, New York, Jersey, Egypt's, Washington, United States, Egypt, Boston

The American people must understand just how shocking and gruesome Hamas’ actions were, Biden told his aides. I think we can change the Middle East,” Biden told a group of Jewish American leaders on Wednesday. “If tomorrow Hezbollah started launching missiles into Israel, that would be seen as a real escalation,” according to a person close to the situation. In his private conversations with Netanyahu, Biden has not urged the Israeli leader to practice restraint in its counterattack against Hamas. “He has always approached Israel with moral clarity and full commitment,” a senior adviser to the president told CNN.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ” Biden, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, John Kirby, it’s, ”, Netanyahu, –, Biden’s, CNN’s Matthew Chance, I’m, Jake Sullivan, Netanyahu’s, ” Sullivan, Netanyahu “, Alexandria Ocasio, ” Ocasio, Cortez Organizations: CNN, White, Jewish, Israel, National Security Council, Senate Foreign Relations, Defense Department, Biden, Democratic Party, New, New York Democrat Locations: Israel, Europe, Tehran, Gaza, United States, Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan, “, Alexandria, Cortez, New York

☆ Sen. Bob Menendez, once top Senate foreign-policy chairman, accused of acting as foreign agent
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Federal prosecutors say Sen. Bob Menendez acted as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt. They said in a new indictment that Menendez should have registered as a foreign lobbyist. He was the top Senate Democrat for foreign policy for most of the time the allegations stemmed from. In a new superseding indictment, prosecutors added the foreign-agent charge to the litany of counts against Menendez, his wife, Nadine Menendez, and a New Jersey businessperson. At the time from which the allegations stem, Bob Menendez was the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Persons: Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, —, Democratic Sen, Nadine Menendez, Will Hana, Hana, Prosecutors, Nadine, Trump, David Rivera Organizations: Service, Democratic, Prosecutors, Benz, Senate Foreign Relations, Democrats, New, State Department, Justice Department, US Department of Agriculture, USDA, Foreign, Republican Locations: Egypt, New Jersey, Menendez's, Cairo, Washington, FARA

☆ Congress is in shambles and failing America when it needs it to function most
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

War broke out in the Middle East with one of the US' closest allies, but Congress can't do a thing. Without a House speaker, very little additional aid can be approved to aid Israel or even Ukraine. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe United States Congress is tragically failing when the world — not just the country — needs it to function most. While President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that some aid has already been sent, sending more will likely depend on the cooperation of Congress.

Persons: —, gridlock, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Israel isn't, there's, McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, George Santos, Santos, Matt Gaetz, Tommy Tuberville, Justin Sullivan, Sen, Bob Menendez, he's, GOP Sen, Chuck Schumer, Democratic Sen, Dick Durbin, Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, Biden, Cruz isn't Organizations: Service, United, United States Congress, Democratic Caucus, Hamas, Republican Party, Republicans, Representatives, GOP, Biden, Foreign Relations, Democratic, Senate, Republican, Counterterrorism, Politico, Biden White House Locations: Israel, Ukraine, United States, New York, Minden, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon

Biden said he and his national security team were working “round the clock" on the crisis, including plotting how to get the Americans home safely. If I told you I wouldn't be able to get them home," Biden said at the start of a White House roundtable with Jewish community leaders. The move is meant to starve resources for Hamas, but aid groups have warned of a humanitarian crisis for the Palestinian people who are also suffering because of the attack. Secretary of State Antony Blinken left Wednesday for Israel, where America's top diplomat is set to meet with Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Biden is an old foreign policy hand, having chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his career as a U.S. senator from Delaware.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Biden, beheadings, Netanyahu, Bibi, Antony Blinken, Isaac Herzog, –, Blinken, Benny Gantz Organizations: Israeli, Hamas, ISIS, Israel, National Unity, Foreign Locations: Gaza, Israel, United States, U.S, Delaware, Dachau, Germany

☆ Who Is Nadine Arslanian, Bob Menendez's Wife Indicted in a Bribery Scandal?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Michelle Mark | Katherine Long | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine Arslanian arrive at federal court following an indictment on corruption charges. Still, even prior to Menendez and federal indictment, Arslanian brushed up against fame and scandal. Arslanian "liked nice things," Anton told Insider. The longtime friend, who asked not to be identified by name, told Insider that Arslanian was conscious of her looks. AdvertisementAdvertisement"We felt that it was a very one-sided investigation," Koop's sister, Rosemarie Koop-Angelicola, told Insider.

Persons: Nadine Arslanian, Richard Koop, Robert Menendez, Arslanian texted Menendez, Sen, Bob Menendez, Brendan McDermid, Menendez's, Arslanian, Menendez, Chris Christie, Doug Anton, Kim DePaola, Kelly, Anton, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mareva Mitsotakis, Chip Somodevilla, Nadine Tabourian, Raffi Arslanian, Sabine, André, Arslanian's, Last, Marco Tacca, Anton's, Koop, —, Narendra Modi, Stefani Reynolds, Bono, — Menendez, Taj, Robert, Nadine, Menendez cradling Arslanian, they've, Koop's, Rosemarie Koop, Angelicola, she's, Wael Hana, Douglas Anton, Jose Uribe, Uribe, Fred Daibes, Bob, Nadine wasn't, Aaron Short Organizations: New Jersey IHOP, Benz, Reuters, Democratic Party, Prosecutors, longtime Garden, Arslanian's, Real Housewives of New, Attorney, Greek, White House, New York University, New York Times, Housewives of, Indian, Getty, Lincoln, Police, Senate Foreign Relations, Strategic, Business Consultants, Strategic International Business Consultants, Hana, Department of Justice Locations: New Jersey, Bogota , New Jersey, Englewood Cliffs, Real Housewives of New Jersey, Beirut, Lebanon, United States, Bergen, Jersey, Cernobbio, Italy, AFP, Bergen County, Union City, Queens, Arslanian's Englewood, Washington, DC, Bogota, Egypt, Arslanian, Egyptian, Englewood

The White House has been working urgently in the past 24 hours to get a Senate confirmation process in motion for President Joe Biden's nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Israel, according to two White House officials. But the White House officials said they hope lawmakers in both parties will agree with the president on the need to quickly confirm Lew amid the war between Israel and Hamas. "Everyone understands the importance behind it," one White House official said. Tom Nides, Biden's former ambassador to Israel, told NBC News in an interview that the Senate needs to confirm his successor "immediately" upon return. One official said Lew is "eager" to get to work, and the White House hopes he is confirmed with bipartisan support.

Persons: Jack Lew, Joe Biden's, Obama, Biden, Lew, Tom Nides, Nides, Sen, Chris Murphy, Israel, Chris Coons, Coons, hasn't, Ted Cruz, Bill Clinton Organizations: International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, IMF, White, Foreign Relations, White House, West Bank, Palestinian Health Ministry, NBC News, Connecticut, U.S, State, Counterterrorism, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, Republicans, Senate, Washington, Management, Israel, Organization, Economic Locations: Europe, Washington , DC, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, Ted Cruz of Texas

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department said Monday that at least nine American citizens have been killed in the weekend Hamas attacks on Israel, raising the toll from four. It was not clear whether the missing had been taken hostage, were killed or were in hiding. The attack by Hamas and Israel's response have left more than 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. The White House has received assurances that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will push forward hearings for Lew, the official added. But the Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for “significant military steps” to retaliate against Hamas.

Persons: ”, Matthew Miller, Joe Biden’s, Obama, Jack Lew, Lew, Tom Nides, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Gerald R, Ford, Thomas Hudner, Ramage, USS Carney, Roosevelt, ” Austin, Chuck Schumer, Israel Organizations: WASHINGTON, State Department, White, White House, U.S, Foreign, Sunday, Ford, Air Force, Pentagon Locations: Israel, U.S, Normandy, Norfolk, Virginia, Italy, United States

☆ Two U.S. Members of Congress Safe After Attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Two U.S. lawmakers who were in Israel during the Hamas attack have safely left the country, their offices said Sunday. Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.), who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was in Jerusalem and scheduled to speak at an event in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. Rep. Dan Goldman (D., N.Y.), who represents parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan, was visiting Israel with his wife and three youngest children for a bar mitzvah when the attacks began.

Persons: Sen, Cory Booker, Dan Goldman Organizations: Senate Foreign Relations, Tuesday Locations: Israel, N.J, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, N.Y, Brooklyn, Manhattan

The Hamas attack left at least 250 dead and 1,500 wounded in Israel. The attack only adds new complications as the Biden administration and Iran are locked in disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program. Biden administration officials have also been working on brokering a normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the most powerful and wealthy Arab state. Biden administration officials pushed back against the argument. Administration officials roundly rejected this, saying their efforts to help Palestinian civilians in Gaza and elsewhere do not involve money that Hamas can use or divert.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ unconscionable ”, ”, ” Biden, Obama, —, won’t, ” Netanyahu, Israel, Jonathan Schanzer, “, Netanyahu, Schanzer, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Matthew Miller, State Victoria Nuland, Barbara Leaf, Seung Min Kim, Jill Colvin, Thomas Beaumont Organizations: WASHINGTON, GOP, Hamas, Hezbollah, Biden, European, Middle East, White, Trump White, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Republican, Israel ., Israel . Florida Gov, Department, Foreign Relations, Islamic, State Victoria, Republicans, Administration, Associated Press Locations: Israel, Jerusalem, Gaza, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Egypt, Syria, Washington, Israel . Florida, Carolina, U.S, Islamic Republic, Lebanon, New York, Waterloo , Iowa

☆ Criminal trial of US Senator Bob Menendez set for May 6
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Bob Menendez’s trial on corruption charges will begin in May, a federal judge in New York said on Monday. The Democratic senator for New Jersey has pleaded not guilty and resisted calls for his resignation following his indictment last month on charges of taking bribes from three New Jersey businessmen. The senator’s wife and businessmen Jose Uribe, 56, Fred Daibes, 66, and Wael Hana, 40, have also pleaded not guilty. The probe marks the third time Menendez has been under investigation by federal prosecutors. Menendez, one of two senators representing New Jersey, stepped down from his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as required under his party’s rules.

Persons: Bob Menendez’s, Sidney Stein, Menendez, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, Hana Organizations: Democratic, Prosecutors, Senate Foreign Relations Locations: WASHINGTON, New York, New Jersey, Jersey, U.S, Manhattan

Among other things, prosecutors accused Menendez of ghostwriting a letter for Egyptian officials that sought to influence U.S. policy on military aid. The judge declined similar requests from Nadine Menendez and her co-defendants, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes. More than half of Senate Democrats have said that Menendez should resign, including New Jersey Gov. Menendez has said he intends to stay in the Senate, saying he is certain he will ultimately be exonerated. Besides setting a trial date, Judge Sidney Stein gave prosecutors a December deadline to turn over certain evidence to the defense.

Persons: —, Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, ghostwriting, Nadine, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Hana, Phil Murphy, New Jersey Sen, Cory Booker, Donald Trump, Sidney Stein Organizations: U.S, Jersey's, Senate, Senate Foreign Relations, Authorities, Prosecutors, New Jersey Gov, New Locations: Jersey, New Jersey, New York City, Washington, Egypt

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