J Street applauds President-Elect Biden’s nominations today of stellar career diplomats and national security leaders to serve in key posts in his administration.

After four years of “America first” sloganeering operationalized as an “America alone” foreign policy, it will be a great relief to once again have leaders throughout the US government committed to human rights, diplomacy and democracy and who understand that multilateral approaches are needed to meet the challenges facing our country, the Middle East and the global community.

With impeccably credentialed former government officials like Tony Blinken as Secretary of State, Avril Haines as Director of National Intelligence, Linda Thomas-Greenfield as US Ambassador to the United Nations and Jake Sullivan as National Security Advisor, the Biden administration will be well-positioned to begin repairing the damage the Trump administration has inflicted on the world stage and within America’s foreign policy and national security agencies.

J Street has had the opportunity to work with a number of these officials in the past, and we look forward to a close relationship going forward as we pursue common objectives including US re-entry into the Iran nuclear agreement, renewed diplomatic engagement with the Palestinians and progress toward a just and viable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

We encourage the Senate to begin hearings as early as possible and to confirm the nominees so that these key diplomatic and national security posts are filled on day one of the incoming Biden administration.