US Defence Secretary-in-waiting Chuck Hagel took one step closer to confirmation of his nomination by President Barack Obama earlier this month, after determined lobbying of all 100 Senators appeared to have secured the support of the influential pro-Israel camp Tuesday.
Following an intense 90-minute meeting at the White House earlier in the day, leading Jewish Democrat Charles E. Schumer confirmed that “based on several key assurances provided by Senator Hagel, I am currently prepared to vote for his confirmation”.
As the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) member and stridently pro-Israel Senator announced plans to lobby sceptics to similarly support Hagel’s candidacy, he added: “I know some will question whether Senator Hagel’s assurances are merely attempts to quiet critics as he seeks confirmation to this critical post, but I don’t think so. Senator Hagel realises the situation in the Middle East has changed, with Israel in a dramatically more endangered position than it was even five years ago.”
He also revealed that Hagel had committed to supporting Obama’s current sanctions policy against Iran in response to its contentious nuclear weapons programme, whilst conceding that “further unilateral sanctions against Iran could be effective and necessary”.
Expressing the need to “keep all options on the table confronting that country”, Schumer added that “Hagel made a crystal-clear promise that he would do ‘whatever it takes’ to stop Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons, including the use of military force”.
In announcing Hagel’s nomination, Obama attempted to head off criticism of his cross-political choice for the post, following the former Senator’s contentious position on Israel during his Senate mandate, insisting he had shown him evidence of his leadership qualities “in our travels together across the Middle East”, as he concluded that his candidate “understands that America stands strongest when we stand with allies and with friends”.
Although refraining to reference criticism of his previous voting position on Israel during his acceptance speech that followed, Hagel subsequently told his local Nebraska newspaper the Lincoln Journal Star that peace must remain the primary concern and objective of Israelis and Palestinians alike. Speaking of the Jewish State’s increasingly fractured relationship with the international community, in light of a series of widely-condemned settlement expansion announcements which provoked both US and EU ire: "Israel is in a very, very difficult position. No border that touches Israel is always secure. We need to work to help protect Israel, so it doesn't get isolated.
"Furthering the peace process in the Middle East is in Israel's interest."
Amongst other instances of his courting of critics, Hagel wrote a letter to another Democrat, California Senator Barbara Boxer regretting past comments attributed to him invoking the so-called “Jewish lobby” as he acknowledged such “language can be construed as anti-Israel”.
“In the Senate, I was a strong supporter of defense appropriations, which provided enduring support for Israel’s security. Most Americans, myself included, are overwhelmingly supportive of a strong U.S.-Israel strategic and security relationship,” he added as he concluded that, should his post be confirmed: “I fully intend to expand the depth and breadth of U.S.-Israel cooperation”.
Hagel’s candidacy received its first significant boost Sunday since his nomination was announced earlier this month, after former Secretary of State and fellow Centrist Republican Colin Powell described him as “superbly qualified” for the role.
The choice of the controversial former Senator is still likely to face some degree of opposition from within the Senate, however, particularly amongst Republican and Jewish groups concerned about the prospective defence secretary’s positions on Israel, Iran, Hezbollah, with 2008 Republican presidential candidate and Arizona Senator John McCain an outspoken opponent of his.