WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved Jacob Lew to be ambassador to Israel, moving quickly to get him in place during the country’s new war with Hamas.
The panel voted 12-9 on Wednesday to move Lew’s nomination to the Senate floor for a final vote, which could come as soon as next week.
The Senate is moving quickly to confirm Lew, who was nominated by President Joe Biden last month after Tom Nides left as ambassador in July.
Republicans have criticized Lew for his role in the Obama White House when it negotiated the Iran nuclear agreement in 2015, among other foreign policy moves.
Lew defended his work in the Obama White House and called Iran an “evil, malign government.”
Persons:
Jacob Lew, Kentucky Sen, Rand Paul, Lew, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Tom Nides, Obama, Iran —, —, Donald Trump, Idaho Sen, Jim Risch, ”
Organizations:
WASHINGTON, —, Foreign Relations, Hamas, Republicans, Obama White, Idaho, Republican
Locations:
Israel, Kentucky, United States, Gaza, Iran