WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Thursday released the following statement after the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to send the nominations for the U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Egypt to the U.S. Senate floor for confirmation:

“Jack Lew is eminently qualified to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel, and his confirmation is critical to our ability to most effectively support our ally, work to prevent a larger conflict in the region, and protect innocent civilians. I look forward to his swift confirmation by the full Senate, but there are several other vacant posts in the region and their confirmation is just as crucial. I’m glad to see the nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Egypt also advance to the Senate floor, and I will continue working with Chairman Cardin and my colleagues on the committee to make sure we have a Senate-confirmed American diplomat in every capital in the region.”

Last week, Murphy spoke at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the nominations hearings of Jack Lew to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Herro Mustafa Garg to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Egypt. Earlier this month, Murphy called for swift confirmation of key State Department officials in the Middle East, including Ambassador to Israel and Egypt. Since then, the Senate has confirmed the ambassadors to Kuwait and Oman.

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