Former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is reportedly the leading candidate to succeed Tom Nides as U.S. ambassador to Israel, according to Axios.
Lew, who served in former President Barack Obama’s Cabinet and was at one point his White House chief of staff, has worked closely in the past with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his close associate, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer. Lew is currently a partner at the private equity firm Lindsay Goldberg and a visiting professor at Columbia University.
Axios notes that Lew practices Orthodox Judaism, has observed the Sabbath throughout his career, and has close ties to the American Jewish community.
Sources told Axios that although other candidates are being considered for the post, such as former ambassador to the European Union Stuart Eizenstat, Lew is the only person currently being vetted. The White House and representatives for Lew declined to comment.
Haaretz reports that Lew’s nomination could face pushback from Republicans over his connection to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. In June 2015 Lew was booed by members of the audience at the Jerusalem Post’s annual conference while defending the Obama administration’s negotiations with Iran, according to The Washington Post.
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.