The US Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Joe Biden's nominee for ambassador to Israel, making banking executive Thomas Nides the United States' top envoy to its closest ally in the Middle East.
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Nides, who is the managing director and vice-chairman of Morgan Stanley, was confirmed by a voice vote in the Senate, which is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.
The confirmation will end a nearly 10-month period in which Washington had no ambassador in the Jewish state. Former President Donald Trump's envoy, David Friedman, stepped down in January and the Biden administration took its time with the post, eventually naming veteran diplomat Michael Ratney to serve as interim chargé d'affaires until the confirmation process was finalized.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan congratulated Nides, saying he was sure Niden "will further strengthen the special bond between Israel and the US."
Congrats to Tom Nides on his confirmation to be US Amb to Israel. Amb Nides, I wish you much success in your role & a fruitful tenure at the US Embassy in Israel's eternal capital, Jerusalem. I'm sure that you will further strengthen the special bond between Israel & the US. 🇮🇱🇺🇸 https://t.co/7XNxDtmgSc
— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) November 4, 2021
Nides was confirmed in a voice on the Senate floor after Republican Senator Josh Hawley filed reservations to the nomination, blocking Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez from fast-tracking the process via a unanimous vote.
The Missouri senator said he objected on behalf of his Republican colleagues to Nides, along with seven other nominees, presented for confirmation by Menendez. The latter blasted the move: "So we will have no ambassador in Israel as we deal with the challenges of Iran and others in the region. It is mind-boggling all of those who get up here and talk about our ally the State of Israel, but we won't have an ambassador there to help us meet the challenges that Israel faces."
All of us at U.S. Embassy Jerusalem eagerly await the arrival of Thomas R. Nides to be Ambassador of the United States to the State of Israel! 🇺🇸🇮🇱 https://t.co/3h7g7gU25B
— U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (@usembassyjlm) November 4, 2021
The Israel Policy Forum also called out the Republicans over the ploy: "A strong US-Israel relationship requires strong diplomatic representation, allowing both sides to work in close partnership and resolve disagreements amicably.
"We are dismayed that Tom Nides, who is unquestionably qualified to serve as ambassador to Israel, continues to be blocked from a swift confirmation on the Senate floor. We call on the Senate to act so that Mr. Nides can begin the critical task of representing the US and its interests in Jerusalem," the group said in a statement.
The Republican opposition to Nides was unusual, as the confirmation of US envoys to Israel is rarely contested. Unlike Friedman, who the Democrats considered a controversial figure, the confirmation of Nides – who fostered effective working relationships with Israeli officials during his years with the Obama administration – was not supposed to meet any snags.
"All of us at US Embassy Jerusalem eagerly await the arrival of Thomas R. Nides to be Ambassador of the United States to the State of Israel," the mission's Twitter account read after the nomination was confirmed.
Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, praised the confirmation, saying it would help boost relations between the two nations.
National President Rhoda Smolow and CEO Naomi Adler released the following joint statement:
"Hadassah applauds the US Senate for confirming Thomas R. Nides to serve as the next US Ambassador to Israel and extends its warmest congratulations to Ambassador Nides and his family. We look forward to welcoming him to Jerusalem, the eternal and undivided capital of Israel. As Zionists and stakeholders in the land of Israel for more than 100 years, Hadassah is steadfastly dedicated to supporting Israel, her people and the US-Israel relationship.
"This friendship and spirit of cooperation is evidenced throughout Israel but is particularly resonant at Hadassah's two hospitals in Jerusalem. Hadassah is grateful for the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and their assistance in the hospitals fulfilling their mission. Hadassah's hospitals in Jerusalem have been global leaders in combating COVID-19. We are incredibly proud of Hadassah's contributions in Israel and around the world.
"We are confident Ambassador Nides will ensure that US support for Israel never wavers and that Israel will always have a friend in America. Hadassah will continue to work toward the creation of enhanced US-Israel medical partnership agreements, and we look forward to working collaboratively with the Ambassador Nides to continue fostering a robust, bilateral relationship with the only democracy in the Middle East."
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