The Senate has not confirmed Jack Lew, the Biden nominee to be the U.S. Ambassador to Israel. The confirmation process has slowed to a crawl. Does it matter if there is an ambassador in place?

An ambassador is the ranking government representative stationed in a foreign capital or country. The ambassador controls specific territory, an embassy. The ambassador has staff and vehicles afforded diplomatic immunity in the host country. Israel is our only true friend in the Middle East, a beacon of democracy in a very bad neighborhood. The U.S.-Israel relationship is special and unquestionable. So, what is going on here?

In times of emergencies and when horrific events happen overseas, Americans can contact the American embassy for assistance. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin has promised a legislative push to focus on providing Israel with whatever it needs to defend itself against Hamas.

Jack Lew was the Secretary of the Treasury and chief of staff during the Obama administration. Lew also served as deputy secretary of state. Biden only recently sent his paperwork to Capitol Hill. The nomination is still being processed. Lew has to have his confirmation hearing and that will likely happen in the coming days. He will likely have the support of a majority of senators. The process can move slowly and in order for it to be quick, it takes a unanimous consent agreement to fast-track he confirmation.

So, it sounds like the absence of an ambassador is due to the ineptness of the Biden administration and their slowness in doing the job. Some Republicans want to hear about Lew’s strategy on the war in Israel, as well as the White House’s strategy. Some Republicans want to expand the discussion to include the administration’s position toward Iran.

Senate Democrats also want to expediate confirmations of State Department nominations. The counterterrorism coordinator is open and other ambassadorships in the region remain open, too.

Truthfully, there is little an ambassador has to do with assisting Americans on the ground. Perhaps coordinating staff on tasks but it is the staff who do the real work of helping Americans. Staff help Americans coordinate travel arrangements or whatever it is they need. The ambassador is a diplomat, an envoy, who represents the United States in ceremonies and is keyed in to high-level meetings.

The Biden administration is telling senators to prepare their constituents. The war in Israel will likely be a long one and Americans will be called on to support Israel for the duration. The Biden administration hasn’t had the best of relationships with Prime Minister Netanyahu. He is blamed by American Democrats as too right-wing. Biden has not even extended an invitation to visit the White House since Netanyahu came back into office. That’s unheard of but that’s the Biden administration.

Thanks to a near-broken confirmation process, the US does not have a U.S. Ambassador in:
– Israel
– Egypt
– Lebanon
– Oman
– Kuwait
– No confirmed top USAID official for the Middle East for nearly 3 years
-No State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism for nearly 2 years

— Robbie Gramer (@RobbieGramer) October 8, 2023

For a man who campaigned on decades spent in elected office and knowledge of how to get things done in Washington, Joe Biden sure is slow to do some basic stuff, like put ambassadors in place around the world, especially in pretty important places.

The American families in Israel who had loved ones taken hostage by Hamas want help from the Israeli government and the American government. They want information about the whereabouts of those loved ones. Operations continue at the American embassy in Jerusalem. The staff is working there and maintaining a help line. There is little they can do, as no one knows where the hostages are being held and if they are still alive. That’s the ugly truth. The embassy’s website offers ways for Americans to get help. The website looks to be updated daily.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is travelling to Israel and Jordan today.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Israel and Jordan October 11-13, 2023, where he will meet with senior officials. The Secretary will reiterate his condolences for the victims of the terrorist attacks against Israel and condemn those attacks in the strongest terms.  The Secretary will also reaffirm the United States’ solidarity with the government and people of Israel.  He will also discuss measures to bolster Israel’s security and underscore the United States’ unwavering support for Israel’s right to defend itself.

An American diplomat, a Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, has been in place at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem since July 2023. That is when Ambassador Tom Nides concluded his service. Stephanie L. Hallett is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service.