Allegations. Mr. Lew denied those allegations. Senator cardin the Senate ForeignRelations Committee will come to order. Todays hearing carries great importance for the United States, for israel and the region. The attacks by hamas just over 10 days ago in israel marked the deadliest day for jews since the holocaust. Abducting elderly in wheelchairs, burning people alive and killing babies in front of parents, it was not only horrific and barbaric, but methodically planned and carried out. Hamas has started a war. Given the state of emergency that israel faces, the United States needs a confirmed u. S. Ambassador in jerusalem. We need somewhere to reenforce that the United States stands with israel in response to the unprecedented terrorist attack. We need someone to lead the selfless personnel who have been working nonstop at mission israel. We need an ambassador to work with our israeli partners and provide help. Secretary lew, we hold this nomination today. I am committed to getting you in place in israel as soon as possible. I thank senator rich so we could expedite this hearing and we both agree that speed is of the essence. Im going to ask the cooperation of our colleagues and ask that questions for the record be submitted by close of Business Today and we will make every effort to get those responses to you by this weekend. We have scheduled a business meeting for next week for a vote on this nomination. I ask the committees cooperation because of the urgency of voting on a confirmed ambassador for the state of israel. Since october 7, hamas has killed more than 1,000 innocent people and injured thousands more. They have viciously killed hostages and are Still Holding others including american citizens. I cannot overstate the urgency for the United States to have a confirmed ambassador on the ground to help deliver u. S. Support for israel and deal with the hostage situation and deal with the humanitarian needs that we know exists. We need an ambassador who can speak with authority and engage diplomatically in the region. Secretary lews experience and political acumen makes him qualified to serve as the u. S. Ambassador to israel. I have seen firsthand jack lews commitment to Public Service. His integrity, his dedication to american values, his understanding of the United StatesNational Security needs, and his deep understanding of respect for the legislative branch of government. I also know his effectiveness than crating solutions to difficult problems. I want to thank secretary lew for his service to the country. And i want to thank your family because we know this is a family sacrifice. Thank you once again for understanding the need for his service to the nation. The last time secretary lew was before the senate as a nominee, he was confirmed by an overwhelming majority of 7126. Now is not the time to play political games. We need to know that the other nations and terrorist groups [indiscernible shouting] how many children need to be killed . Our families are dying. We need a cease fire now. Cease fire now, cease fire now. Senator cardin now is not the time to pay political games. We need to make sure that other terrorist groups do not open new fronts in the conflict. We need to be clear with everyone. From hezbollah in lebanon to the regime in iran and assad in syria and putin in russia, dont even think about joining or expanding the war. To that end, we need to confirm ambassadors to other critical posts in the region. Doing so would allow secretary lew to work with counterparts to make sure americans throughout the region are safe and our interests are represented to the fullest extent. Secretary, there is clearly no shortages of challenges facing you. I look forward to hearing how you plan to address them and how you plan for congress to support that. We need your eyes and ears to understand what is going on in jerusalem and we need to keep you pushing on normalization agreements between israel and saudi arabia. We need you to make it clear to our allies and enemies that when our friends are in trouble, the United States has their back. Most importantly of all, we need you confirmed. Without objection, i will enter into the record letters of support from the American Jewish committee and the Antidefamation League without objection. Let me turn to our distinguished Ranking Member. Thank you, chairman. Thank you for consulting with me over the past week to get to where we are today. We are here to support israel by filling a vacancy in the position for ambassador to israel. We have an acting member there with stephanie who is doing a great job. She is very helpful to me. To me and other officials we met with. And we do have things being done there on the ground. I agree with you. We need this thing filled. The problem i have is it needs to be filled with the right person. The worse thing than having it empty is to have the wrong person there, and i have some issues in that regard which we are going to talk about and clear the air today one way or another. 18 years ago israel took the step of dismantling israeli settlements in gaza. [indiscernible shouting] 18 years ago, israel took the step of dismantling israeli settlements in gaza, handing the territory to the Palestinian Authority. This has been a disaster for the people in gaza and israel as well. Israel faces an unprecedented crisis on the scale of the september 11 attacks against the United States. Gunmen killed families, killed babies, beheaded the elderly, and dragged hostages across the border to gaza. These attacks were brutal and horrific. We mourn the loss of israelis and americans and people from numerous from other countries. As israel rightly responds to safeguard its citizens, it is absolutely imperative that israel has the freedom to act until they get the job done. This happened to us and to europe at the end of world war ii. Nazis had taken over germany and were marching across europe. Our allies made the decision that the organization, the nazis, could not exist any further. And we didnt just go to battle to defeat germany on the battlefield, we went to war to defeat, dismantle and eliminate the nazis. We did that and it was difficult. We eliminated the nazis as a military, as a political force, as a cultural force, and everything else. Israelis are attempting to do the same thing now with hamas, who deserve it. [indiscernible shouting] we need a cease fire now. Stop sending aid to israel. [indiscernible shouting] senator cardin let me make it clear, we will not tolerate interruptions in our hearing. You see whats going to be happening. We ask that those that have strong views, there is a place to express it, but it is not to disrupt this hearing. I will not tolerate it. Immediately after the attacks on israel, we saw calls for a cease fire. What happened in gaza is linked to iran, that is so important. What happened in gaza is directly linked to iran. The Biden Administration cannot wish away the iranian threat or appease the Iranian Regime with promises of unfrozen funds and sanctions relief. The attacks in israel and attacks against our troops and diplomats are proof of our own failed diplomatic policy. Iran is the supporter of hamas. Unfortunately, the fact of the matter, iran has more resources to support terrorism today than it did in 2019. U. S. Sanctions enforcement in this administration have been lacking. Iran has earned the shocking 80 billion in oil revenue since the Biden Administration took office. Irans oil economy once hobbled at 250,000 barrels a day, but it is now selling 2 Million Barrels of oil every day, mostly to china. We know where that money is going. They have grown from 70 vessels to over 300 during the Biden Administration. The unfreezing of funds in iraq and now the whopping 6 billion in south korea are completely unacceptable and make americans less safe. It should come as no surprise that these attacks occurred immediately after the Biden Administration unfroze the 6 billion and 75 million directly over my strenuous objections. On palestinian policy, the Biden Administration argued that restoring funding that i objected to would give the Palestinian Authority the leverage to promote palestinian voices and reform organizations. Two years later, we have seen no reform. Violence is at record levels. And many palestinians identify with terror groups to meet their aspirations. Like iran policy, it is time for wholesale reevaluation of palestinian policy. So today we are here to help israel. We are here to look at the vacancies that exists, the nominee that has been put before us. We are here to help israel, not hurt it. Secretary lew, i have reservations on your appointment. Not only will you need to support israel as it responds to these attacks, but also as it contends with the enduring and indeed existential iranian threat which i think is an underlying and foundational issue here. I have reservations about your ability to do that. You played a key role in supporting the Obama Administrations Nuclear Negotiations and i have concerns about the longstanding transparency on the transfers of cash to the regime. You have publicly insisted that the transfers of cash do not free up iranian resources for terror activities. I fundamentally agree with that assessment. Importantly, it is alleged that you lied or misled us, this very committee. On that i have three items i want to insert in the record and i will, mr. Chairman. Two of them are Opinion Pieces from the Washington Post and the third one is a report by the permanent subcommittee on investigations which has been authored, and i would like to enter those. Senator cardin without objection. They will be included. Im going to have questions for you about your activities in what i think was a back handed way of supporting iran. And with that, i yield back. Im here to support israel today and help every way i can. Its important to get the right person in this position. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Senator cardin we will hear from secretary lew. Your full statement will be made part of the record and you may proceed as you wish. Mr. Lew chairman cardin and Ranking Member and members of the committee. I am honored to appear as the president s nominee to serve as u. S. Ambassador to the state of israel. I am grateful to President Biden and secretary blinken for the trust and confidence that they have shown in me at this critical moment. If confirmed, i look forward to working closely with you and other members of congress to advance u. S. And israeli interests. Joining me today are my wife ruth and our children. They supported this mission when the focus was to expand the Abraham Accords by further integrating israel into the middle east region, and they remain supportive as israel is in the midst of war. As always, knowing they are behind me is at the core of my ability to serve. I cannot remember a time when israel struggled for security was not at the forefront. I came of age in a family that had combined reliefs combined beliefs in religious zions is zionism. When i was 12 we followed reports of the sixday war with daily newspapers and broadcast news. In 1973, the year i came to washington as a young man, i learned of the yom kippur war at synagogue on our most solemn day of prayer, and i worried deeply about the survival of the state of israel. The horrific and murderous terrorist attacks just days ago shattered another holy day and learning again of an attack on israel at a Prayer Service was an experience that i had hoped never to repeat. At this moment, there is no Greater Mission than to be asked to strengthen the ties between the United States and israel, to work towards peace in the region that has known so much war and destruction. The savage attack demands the condemnation of the world and President Biden has made clear that the United States stands with israel in its efforts to defend itself. I will do my utmost to end the horrific attacks by hamas and ensure that israel has what it needs to defend itself. And i will spare no effort to help american citizens that are held captive to return home safely. And i will work to root out terrorists and their families to pay for their heinous crimes. I will work to prevent other states and nonstate actors and coordinate with International Communities to address the humanitarian crisis that hostages are being used as human shields by hamas. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, i want to be clear, iran is a threat to regional stability and to israels existence. If confirmed, i will uphold President Bidens commitment to deny iran a Nuclear Weapon and warning to the region that anyone who is thinking of taking advantage of the current crisis, dont. I will work to strengthen israel s security. Israel is our closest partner in the region and its security is paramount. The president has been clear the u. S. Commitment to israel is ironclad, demonstrated in part by our 38 billion memorandum of understanding. In the midst of war, our longterm strategic objectives must also remain clear. If confirmed, i will work to advance comprehensive and lasting peace through a twostate solution to the palestinianisraeli conflict and build upon the Abraham Accords and promote integration, normalization, and cooperation with israel as a fully recognized partner. I look forward to deepening economic and commercial relationships, enhancing cooperation and Economic Security in sectors such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, transportation, smart agricultural technologies and clean energy. And as israels economy grows and diversifies, the u. S. And israel must enhance our close cooperation on Foreign Investment direct management. If confirmed, i will continue to oppose all efforts to isolate and delegitimize israel internationally and support the global fight against antisemitism. I will advance the tireless work of this administration to firmly reject the boycott and sanctions Divestment Movement while respecting the rights of all americans to free speech. I will work to reenforce all efforts to combat antisemitism, building upon the president s efforts to counter antisemitism, including the movements that have formed in the wake of the hamas attacks on october 7. More broadly, if confirmed, i will work to further strengthen our 75yearold partnership with israel and deepen bonds between our people. Finally, as someone who has dedicated much of my life to Public Service, i thank the talented and committed Foreign Service officers, Civil Servants and foreign nationals who are doing an extraordinary job at a time of violence and war representing the United States and washington and abroad. Just watching this morning, are able officials standing beside the president knowing that her family and the families of all our people that are over there have been shaken by the last 10 days. As a citizen, i have personal appreciation for their dedication, courage, and i think their Service Deserves the admiration and respect of the American People. Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, thank you for the opportunity to testify here today. And i look forward to your questions. Sen. Cardin thank you. Before we start the fiveminute rounds, i have the obligatory questions that are answered by all nominees. Do you agree to peer before this committee and make officials from your Office Available to your committee . Mr. Lew yes. Sen. Cardin do you commit to keep this Committee Informed of the activities under your purview . Mr. Lew yes. Sen. Cardin you agree in meaningful engagement while the policies are developed . Mr. Lew yes. Sen. Cardin do you agree to promptly respond to requests for briefings . Mr. Lew yes. Sen. Cardin you answered all those questions correctly. Thank you. We are off to a good start. Let me ask you a question about your view of the u. S. Israel relations. 1948, president truman did something that the state department did not recommend that he do. He did that because of his belief that israel shared the same values of the United States and the part of the world where we had no other country that shared those values. And that relationship has grown over that period of time. As you pointed including the memorandum of understanding, the billions of dollars of aid, the development of the iron down iron dome, and shared intelligence information and technology. I would like to get your view as to that relationship, why it is special, what you have done in your public life to help strengthen the ties between israel and the United States. Mr. Lew thank you, mr. Chairman. It will come to no surprise to you that i grew up believing harry truman was a hero. He did not have to do what he did and the state of israel may