After Tom Nides' departure: The new U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, arrived in Israel and presented his credentials to Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The significance of submitting the document is his actual entry into the sensitive position.
In contrast to the usual procedure, Lou arrived in Israel on Friday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and immediately began his duties in order to assist in the war effort. Lu, 67, an observant Jew, served as U.S. Treasury secretary during the Obama administration.
During the ceremony, the President said: "Ambassador Lou, it is a real pleasure to welcome you, and to receive your credentials here in Jerusalem. Welcome. I know your outstanding achievements over decades of public service in the United States, and I know about your deep connection to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
President Herzog at the reception ceremony for the incoming US ambassador // Credit: Yoni Rikner
"A crisis is always a reminder of who your friends are – that's true for people, and it's true for countries. I speak for all the people of Israel when I say: The friendship with the United States has never been clearer and more appreciated than it is right now.
"We are grateful to President Joe Biden for his unwavering support for the State of Israel and the people of Israel, and we appreciate the tremendous efforts, as well as the return visits of Secretary Blinken and other senior officials. We are aware of everything your country has done for us, and is doing as we speak, and we will never forget it.
"I would love to welcome you in times of peace, you deserve the welcome ceremony in full, but we both know that you are coming at a turning point for the State of Israel and the region, and perhaps even for the entire world.
"On October 7, Simchat Torah, we were subjected to a barbaric attack that changed the face of our country forever. Our army is now fighting in Gaza, against a terrorist organization that uses its civilian population as human shields, disguises its forces in ambulances, and hides its headquarters under a hospital.
"This organization, and other Iranian branches in Lebanon, Yemen, and elsewhere in the region, are the threat we face, but it is also the threat that America faces, and ultimately the threat that the compartmentalized world faces.
"It's about more than Israel and Hamas, it's about whether the world will accept the violation of humanity's most basic values.
President Herzog with the incoming US ambassador, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
"We appreciate the clarity we heard in President Biden's remarks, who called the Hamas threat by its real name – cruelty. Cruelty is the exact word for terrorists who hold more than 240 people, including infants and the elderly, American citizens, without giving a piece of information about their fate. This is an ongoing war crime, and anyone concerned about humanitarian assistance must act to ensure the immediate return and unconditional release of the abductees.
"As Secretary Blinken heard during his visit on Friday, we are committed to humanitarian assistance for the non-involved civilian population in Gaza – wherever possible. But we all know that the only way to stop the suffering of Israelis and Palestinians is to remove the threat of Hamas.
"These difficult times are a test for all of us. But as you know, Israel is a country founded on hope - our national anthem is called Hatikvah, which means "Hatikvah". Together, Ambassador Lou, we can defeat the forces of chaos and violence and turn our hopes into reality."
Participated in the preparation of the article: Ariel Kahane.
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