Nominee to be the next ambassador to israel. Questions about the Iran Nuclear Deal when he was treasury secretary and the Obama Administration. Some ergonomic is alleged he was not forthcoming about the deal financial implementation. He denied the allegations. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] click. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible] [background noises] the Senate ForeignRelations Committee will come to order. Todays hearing carries great importance for the United States, israel and the region. The attacks by hamas over ten days ago in israel of the deadliest day for juice since the holocaust. Objective elevate and wheelchairs, burning people alive, killing babies in front of parents, not only horrific and barbaric but methodically planned and carried out. Hamas started a war. We need someone to reinforce the message the United States stands shoulder to shoulder the United States with their response of a terrorist attack. We need someone with the remarkablehe selfless personnel workingg nonstop in israel. How provide services to over 600,000 american citizens with great urgency to hold his nomination hearing today. Im committed to getting to israel as soon as possible. Thank you for working with me so we could expedite this hearing today. Speed is of the essence and confirmed ambassador to israel. I will ask the questions for the record submitted by the close of Business Today and we will make every effort to be sure we get responses to you by thisr weekend. We have scheduled a business meeting to vote on the nomination. The urgency of voting on the state of israel. Since october 7 hamas killed more than 1000 innocent people and they have fastidiously killed hostages and Still Holding others including american citizens. I do not overstate the urgency for the United States to have a confirmed ambassador on thehe ground to help deliver u. S. Support for israel to deal with the hostage situation and humanitarian needs ambassador at this critical delegate time to speak of ability and engage in the region at the highest level. Secretaries experience and political makes him qualified to serve as the u. S. Ambassador to israel. I have seen firsthand jack lous commitment to service. His integrity and dedication to American Values is understanding United StatesNational Security need and his deep understanding for the legislative branch of government that i know effectiveness in crafting this difficulty. I want to thank secretary lou for the service of our country and willingness to continue that service is critically important. This is a sacrifice, thank you for understanding our nation. The last time secretary lou was before the senate has no money, he is confirmed by an overwhelming majority of 71 to 26 o. Now is not the time to play political gains. We need to make sure other nations and terrorist groups [inaudible] this is not the time to play political games [inaudible] we need a ceasefire now [chanting] as i said, now is not the time for political games. We need to be sure terrorist groups do not exploit the crisis and new front inis the conflict. We need to be clear with everyone. Hezbollah in lebanon, the regime in iran, syria putin and russia dont even think about joining or expanding the war. To that end we need to confirm ambassadors and other critical posts in thehe region doing so would allow them to work with counterparts to make sure americans throughout the region are safe and represented at the post extent. There is clearly no shortage of challenges facing you and i look forward to hearing how you plan to address them and what congress can do to support them. We need your eyes and ears to better understand what is going on in jerusalem. We need you to keep pushing forward between israel and saudi arabia. Make it clear to allies and enemies and went under in trouble, United States as our back. Most important we need to confirm. I will enter intoo the record including the American Jewish committee. Thank you for consulting with me to get where we are today. We are here to support israel by filling the vacancy and position for ambassador, we have an acting there doing a great job reand very helpful so we do have things beingng done and i agree, we need this field. The problem is it needs to be filled with the right person. The worst thing to have an empty is to have an empty. Airfully we will clear the one way or another. Eighteen years ago the step of dismantling israeli settlements [inaudible] eighteen yearsrs ago taking e steps of dismantling the territory over to the Palestinian Authority. All the elderly and drag hostages across the border to gaza and these attacks were brutal and horrific. The loss of 14 israelis and 31 americans and people from numerous countries as israel responds to safeguard citizens, it is imperative israel has to freedom to act until i get the job done. This happened in world war ii taking over germany working across europe, we made the decision organization nazis could not exist any further we just go to battle defeat germany on the battlefield, we went to the disable and eliminate the nazis. We did that and it was difficult. We eliminated nazis as a military, or political force, a cultural force and everything else. Israelis were attempting to do the same thing with hamas who richly deserve it. Almost a medially after [inaudible] s we need ceasefire now let me make it clear, we will not tolerate interruptions in our hearing. You see what is going to be happening. We ask those with strong views, there is aio place to express it but its not to disrupt this hearing, i will not tolerate that. Almost immediately after the attacks in israel we saw calls for remediation. Iran is the supporter of hamas which is about iran. The fact is iran has more resources to support terrorismup today and it did 2000 sanctions harvest of administration is readily lacking. Urban earned a shocking 80 billing dollars in oil revenue since the Biden Administration took office. All rightt Oil Committee on public 250 doing holiday now selling almost 2 Million Barrels of Oil Every Day mostly to china. We know where that money is going. From 70 vessels to only the Biden Administration. Person, now six doing our completely unacceptable. Markets and partners, it should come as no surprise these attacks occurred immediately after the Biden Administration closed six doing 75 million directly over my strenuous objections. A palestinian policy, the Biden Administration argued restoring funding by objectives to would give authority to promote voices for the organizations. Two years later we have seen perform and violence at record levels, active and palestinians identify to meet their aspirations. Like iran policy, it is time for reevaluation so today we are here look at the vacancies that exist we are help israel. Not only will youen need to support israel as a response to these attacks but also as it contends with the enduring existential iranian threat which is the foundational issue here. I have reservations about your ability to do that and play a key role for negotiations and longstanding concerns before the regime. The transfers of cash did not free of resources for their activity. I agree with the assessment. Really importantly it met us and on that i have three items in the record and to Opinion Pieces from the Washington Post in the third one is a report by the permanent subcommittee on investigations. Without objection, it will be included in the record. I have questions i about your activities and what i think is the backhanded way supporting rent and with, i am willing to yield back in here to support and help in every way i can. We will now hear from secretary lou your statement will be record. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. I am honored to appear in the state of israel grateful to President Biden and secretary lincolncr for the confidence thy have shown in this critical moment. I look forward to working closely with you and other members of congress to advance u. S. And israeli forces. Joining me today from a support of this mission when the focus was to expand abraham reports for further integrating into the middle east region and remain of a ware in the midst working toward peaceful pay. Always knowing they are behind me is at the core my ability to serve. I cannot remember a time when israel struggled with security, it was not at the forefront. Most 12, we followed daily reports of the war as possible newspapers and broadcast. 1973, your i came to washington as a young man i learned of the young people are more in our solemn day of prayer and worried about the survival of israel. Thend horrific murderous terrort attack days ago chatter another holy day and sunny of an attack on israel in a Prayer Service with an experience i hope never to be. At this moment there is no Greater Mission and to be asked to strengthen ties between the United States and israel to work towards these in a region known so much war and destruction. The savage attack demand the condemnation of the war in dePresident Biden has made clear United States stands with israel and efforts for itself. I will do my utmost to end the horrific attacks by hamas and ensure israel has what it needs to defend itself and i will spare no effort working to help american citizens now captive to return home safely. I will work to woo out payments to tears and families to reward the crimes. If confirmed, i will work to prevent other states or nonstate actors from expanding this conflict and i will coordinate with International Community to address humanitarian crisis for civilians in gaza being used as human shields. Members of the committee i want to be clear, iran is a threat to regional stability and israel to exist. If confirmed, i will uphold President Biden commitment to deny iran and Nuclear Weapon and warnings to the reason and anyone thinking of taking advantage of the current crisis, dont. How will work to strengthen Israel Security and our closest partner in the region is ironclad. Demonstrated in part by our memorandum of understanding. Longterm strategic objective also limits clear. Re the Abraham Accords and create normalization and cooperation across the region with israel to fully partners. I look forward to t deepening commercial relationships enhancing cooperation and Economic Security sectors such as cybersecurity, artificial orintelligence, transportation, Agricultural Technology and clean energy. Israels economy grows and diversifies, the u. S. Andnd isrl must enhance close cooperation on Foreign Investment risk managementn. If confirmed, i will continue to oppose efforts to isolate the demise willsr internationally support the global fight against antisemitism. I will advance tireless work of his administration to reject, boycott and sanctionsad movement while respecting the rights of all americans to free speech. I will work to reinforce collective efforts to combat antisemitism, building President Bidens National Strategy to counter antisemitism including a. Incident in the wake of hamas attacks on october 7. More broadly, if confirmed, i will work to further strengthen 75yearold friendship with israel and the bond between our people. As someone who has dedicated much of my life to Public Service, i want to thank the talented and committed Foreign Service officers, Civil Service and Foreign National for doing extraordinaryin job for war representing the United States and washington and abroad. Logic this morning, standing beside the president knowing her family and families of all people over there have been shaken by the last ten days. I have personal appreciation to dedication, Courage Service deserves the admiration and respect for all american people. Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member risk, take you for the opportunity to testify to the new look forward to your questions. Before we start fiveminute rounds, i have questions that should be answered by a yes or a no. Officials from your Office Available to the committee. Do you keep activities under your purview . Mr yes. Do you commit to a meaningful conversation while policies are being developed to provide notification for the box . Yes. Do you commit to probably respond to requests requested by the committee and designated staff . Yes. You answered all questions correctly. [laughter] identical forprofits determine. We will start fiveminute rounds. Let me ask you a question about your view of u. S. Israel relations. His belief israel shared the United States and part of the world where there is no other country that shared those values. The development of iron and the list goes on and on and intelligence of technology so i would like to get your view. Helphe strengthen the ties to te United States. Harry truman was aro hero and they have come into existence. This relationship is zero special because we share the president recently you no space understand about the state of israel such as people of israel who are safe so the relationship between the United States at the core of who i am and what i believe the reason that can count on my Foreign Policy integrated into many roles likely is the director of omb, chief of staff and secretary of treasury. I was thehe one who helped desin mou the commitment of Security Assistance to israel and i was deputy secretary who helped israelwa because number, a Membership Organization of the developing of the world desperately wanted at a time when it was marginalized thrown out of the international body. I was director who helped fund israels Missile Defense on multiple occasions and not without concerned about cost and some concerns about the scope of our commitment. I have not shied away from expressing my dues in the position of the United States requiring Public Officials to represent argument to do so. I am happy to discuss those matters but i believe my reputation as somebody who stands with israel is young russian. The government of israel has made it clear. The immediate need for u. S. To help israel deal with this war providing support and needs, dealing with hostage beliefs, dealing with potential escalation preventing them from happening, that will be needed concern looking for, he mentioned Abraham Accords and normalization, wasnt normalization objectives taking place in the middle east israel saudi arabia so tell me your view how you keep these discussions alive during the time of war. It is going to be a challenge until the war and people there were here to focus on the day after the leave those of us are only on negotiations between israel and in the israel two weeks ago israel and saudi arabia conversation, i have extensive dealings in the region and what pledge support to make it one second make it, it was the mission to start with. I pray we get back. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Say i agree with virtually everything he said, particularly as the underlying issue here which i think is the relations between saudi arabia and israel. Those are probably the boxers that called around to pull the trigger. People who are in to size up against israel he knowing exactly what the constantly this would be and successfully turning the world against israel responded, i think thats what has happened. We can you on saturday officials to urge that. My problem of course your to go from Washington Post trying to do just that working to turn 5. 7 billion in thebu currency by u. S. Bank so i will pursue that. To ask you first of all if you recall sitting in the chair 2015 and it will continue out of the jc poa ira will continue to be denied access the u. S. Financial commercial markets. I remember that testimony well and i believe we kept around from becoming part of the u. S. Financial system and i am happy to discuss the implementation of the jc poa. I know you may not agree on the policy. Thats an understatement. What we did was implement policy that was transparent but i testified before this committee in terms of what was being done. We negotiated two honda will a Nuclear Program in exchange for access to money i was there money we had frozen. All we did was facilitate that transaction so we did not one of them