The White House declined to comment on Nides' forthcoming nomination. However, the nomination was also confirmed by multiple White House and other Biden administration officials to NBC News.
Robert Wexler, a former Democratic congressman from Florida, was also receiving serious consideration for the high-profile post, officials said.
Getting an ambassador in place in Israel has become a high priority for the administration after this month's 11-day war between Israel and Hamas that killed more than 250 people —mostly Palestinians — and displaced tens of thousands from the Gaza Strip. The fighting marked the most significant clashes between Israel and Hamas since 2014.
Israelis complained in the weeks following Biden’s inauguration in January that he was slow to name his envoy and to reach out to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Some Israeli officials worried that the relative early silence forecast a chillier relationship between the two close allies after former President Donald Trump’s warm embrace.