Washington, D.C. (November 3, 2021) — Democratic Majority for Israel President Mark Mellman today made the following statement:
“It is simply unconscionable for Senator Josh Hawley to block swift approval of Tom Nides as Ambassador to Israel and Dr. Deborah Lipstadt as the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.
“Sen. Hawley recently pontificated on what he perceives as the importance of masculinity — but he isn’t even man enough to offer an explanation for his reckless effort to block these eminently qualified leaders. Instead, he is simply objecting on behalf of unnamed ‘colleagues.’
“Make no mistake, opposing swift Senate confirmation of Mr. Nides and Dr. Lipstadt is not a pro-Israel position. Indeed, further delay damages the U.S.-Israel alliance at a critical moment and hurts the battle against antisemitism as it rises to increasingly dangerous levels.
“Mr. Nides and Dr. Lipstadt are unquestionably qualified to carry out their respective roles as ambassador and special envoy. Mr. Nides brings experience as both a deeply experienced State Department official and as a successful private businessman. As Deputy Secretary of State from 2011-2013, Nides worked closely with Israeli officials and was highly regarded as an advocate for Israel’s security. Dr. Lipstadt has dedicated her career to combating hatred and has battled antisemitism from the halls of academia, to the public square, to the world’s courtrooms. She is uniquely qualified to take on this challenge.
“We strongly urge Sen. Hawley to stop playing politics with these highly qualified nominees and encourage Republicans to swiftly approve these vital nominations.”
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