Biden nominates Jack Lew to become next top diplomat to Israel
Naomi Lim
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President Joe Biden has tapped former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to be his next ambassador to Israel.
Lew, if confirmed, would replace former Ambassador Thomas Nides, who stood down from the post in July.
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“Among the highlights of his long and distinguished career in public service, Lew served as Secretary of the Treasury for President [Barack] Obama and had broad responsibilities for economic diplomacy,” the White House said Tuesday. “In addition, he held positions as Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources and as chief of staff for the president.”
Lew, who was most recently the managing partner of Lindsay Goldberg LLC and a visiting professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University, was also the director of Obama’s and former President Bill Clinton‘s Office of Management and Budget, serving in the role under Clinton between 1998 and 2001.
“In both administrations, he was a principal at the National Security Council,” the White House said. “Earlier, as special assistant to President Clinton, he was one of the architects of the national service program, AmeriCorps.”
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His nomination coincides with widespread criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his judicial reforms and his approach to the Palestinians, as well as Biden’s attempts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Lew currently heads the National Committee on United States-China Relations, is the co-president of the National Library of Israel USA’s board, and is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.