▶ 0:22:56Chair Risch: As usual, I will mind everyone that you are all welcome here and we like having all of you here. However this is a meeting of the foreign relations committee to do america's business. There will be no audience participation of any kind, and that includes with signals, with signs or obviously, standing up or speaking. If you do that, you will be removed, arrested and processed as usual.
▶ 0:23:26Chair Risch: With that, we are glad to have you here and I am glad you came to watch but this is america's business. We have some senators that want to get on their way but have requested introductions.
▶ 0:23:42Sen. Scott: It is an honor to sit before you today to introduce my friend and floridian, kevin marina cabrera to this committee. I would also like to recognize his mother who is here today. You must be very proud.
▶ 0:24:00Sen. Scott: And I nominate another floridian to his administration, president trump made a great sure -- a great choice to be the ambassador of panama. Kevin currently serves as the county commissioner in miami-dade county and vice chair of the international trade consortium.
▶ 0:24:24Sen. Scott: During his term he successfully led trade missions to -- tickly -- to key global markets. He understands the need for good trade partners in the western hemisphere and the impact it has in preventing communist china and other adversaries for gaining a grip, all while doing everything we can to bring a new day of freedom around the western hemisphere.
▶ 0:24:51Sen. Scott: President trump chose a leader who can deliver for americans and for the great men and women of the diplomatic service station in panama. It is one of the countries that I have visited a couple of times as governor and as a senator in 2019. I met some of the wonderful team working to represent our best interests. With his and marco rubio's leadership, our diplomatic mission will be successful.
▶ 0:25:18Sen. Scott: Panama plays a serious role in the international trade mission which is why we need strong leadership like kevin at the helm. I am confident that his skills, character, and expertise will make him an effective ambassador. I look forward to hearing for his vision and how he plans to advance president trump's agenda. I'm confident kevin will help restore peace through strength and stand for america's best interest.
▶ 0:25:45Sen. Scott: He has my full support and I urge my colleagues to advance his nomination quickly.
▶ 0:25:49Chair Risch: Thank you. We appreciate that. Senator cruz I understand you are on a short chain so we will recognize you to introduce Mr. rubinstein.
▶ 0:25:59Sen. Cruz: It is an honor to introduce reed rubinstein before the committee. I first met him back in 2014 when he was the attorney representing the victims of the 2009 fort hood terrorist attack carried out by a jihadist. I worked closely on one of his very first pieces of legislation that was passed into law.
▶ 0:26:23Sen. Cruz: That addressed the fort hood attack and the obama administration's refusal to award purple hearts to the victims. They called it workplace violence instead of terrorism and on the senate armed services committee I introduced an amendment to mandate that the purple heart be awarded. It got bipartisan support. It was passed into law and I was proud to be there when the purple hearts were finally awarded. Although sadly, years after the horrific attack.
▶ 0:26:53Sen. Cruz: He is annexed hearings lawyer with more than 40 years of private practice, litigating constitutional, administrative and complex commercial trial and appellate clays -- cases. He has talked about regulatory compliance m&a and transactional matters while handling congressional branch oversight, investigations and enforcement issues. He is exceptionally well qualified to serve as legal advisor to the state department.
▶ 0:27:25Sen. Cruz: With a strong legal background and previous experience as a deputy associate attorney general in the U.S. department of justice and general counsel to the U.S. department of education, I have no doubt that he will serve our nation with the utmost integrity and I have full confidence in him and I support his nomination and I look forward to seeing him confirmed. Thank you.
▶ 0:27:46Chair Risch: Thank you very much. We appreciate that. I know you have another commitment that you have to makes it -- make so we excuse you. I will move to senator boseman and kathy here today?
▶ 0:28:02Sen. Boozman: Thank you. It is good to see you and the ranking member and the rest of my distinguished colleagues. It is an honor to introduce my friend and fellow arkansan, governor mike huckabee. President trump's nominee for U.S. ambassador to israel. I know senator cotton would have liked to your -- like to be here.
▶ 0:28:25Sen. Boozman: It was a first call I received very early this morning reminding me to tell everybody how much he supported this, and what a great ambassador he thinks that governor huckabee would make. I would also like to say hello to his family and friends in attendance and how glad we are we are supporting him. We know that these are family affairs whether it is us or people who serve in other aspects of government.
▶ 0:28:56Sen. Boozman: This is a pivotal moment in our history not just for our country but israel and the special relationship between on -- between our nations. I have had the privilege of knowing the governor for many years and without hesitation he has the right person to be our representative to israel at this critical moment. I am thankful for president trump for selecting such a staunch advocate for the jewish state.
▶ 0:29:19Sen. Boozman: He was raised in arkansas and went on to graduate from watch atoll baptist university where he majored in religion and attended southwest baptist theological seminary in fort worth. In preparation for a lifetime of history which included pastoring emmanuel baptist church and later beech street baptist church.
▶ 0:29:43Sen. Boozman: He went on to serve as president of the arkansas baptist state convention where his leadership and munication skills intersected at the cornerstone of his life, spreading the gospel are -- gospel and shepherding christians and foreshadowed his calling in the public service. He served as the 44th governor of arkansas for over a decade with his time as chief executive marked by his tireless pursuit of pragmatic solutions.
▶ 0:30:13Sen. Boozman: And a tireless work ethic and ability to forge relationships across political divides. He brought transformational changed arkansas, leaving a legacy of lower taxes, job creation, improvement of state infrastructure, k through 16 education reform and is a magnet of a health initiative focused on disease prevention.
▶ 0:30:40Sen. Boozman: He has not only qualified to serve, but he is uniquely suited given the way he has championed israel throughout his entire life including as a steadfast supporter of the right to exist and defend itself. He has had an intimate familiarity with israel's people and leaders, having frequently visited and led groups to the region since 1981.
▶ 0:31:05Sen. Boozman: He also understands the importance of diplomacy and has a profound respect and appreciation for it. And, he has worked persistently throughout his life to advocate for strengthening the distinctly profound ties between our two countries. As united states abbasid israel, he will bring a thoughtful and principled approach as his extensive experience shows.
▶ 0:31:32Sen. Boozman: He believes like many of us that the united states and israel share a sacred bond that transcends politics in terms of shares valued -- shared valued and mutual security. In an increasingly dangerous world, the united states needs a representative in israel that not only understands the complex middle east geopolitics, but can navigate them with conviction, strength, and tact.
▶ 0:32:01Sen. Boozman: Governor huckabee's background experience qualify him to be that for this poor -- purpose. His deep understanding will undoubtedly make him an exceptional ambassador. I know he will represent the united states with honor and ironclad commitment to the enduring partnership between our two nations. I look forward to seeing the great things people do as united states ambassador to israel.
▶ 0:32:33Sen. Boozman: I urge my colleagues to support him as does my colleague, senator cotton from arkansas.
▶ 0:32:38Chair Risch: Thank you. I know you have other things you have to do but thank you very much and I am sure that Mr. huckabee is very much appreciate your kind words and I know I talked to tom cotton and he wishes he could be here but he has some things biting him like we all do from time to time and he likewise would have been a strong introduction and support. Thank you.
▶ 0:33:06Chair Risch: So, where we are going to go is I'm going to make an opening statement and then I will yield to my distinguished colleagues for her opening statement. And then we will hear from the nominees and then we will do a round of questions, and possibly a second if there is interest. Today, we have -- we are going to hear from three more of the national security nominees.
▶ 0:33:30Chair Risch: These positions are key to advancing president trump's american first foreign policy priorities and helping america's friends while pushing back against our enemies. Governor huckabee as U.S. investors or tubers -- ambassador to israel would represent us at one of our postings. Israel is a bastion of freedom and the least and a close as part sure -- partner encountering destabilizing efforts in the region.
▶ 0:33:57Chair Risch: For years the previous administration withheld american support necessary for israel. Not all, but some of it in the wake of the horrendous attacks on october 7. And, despite that, israel had the courage to confront iran and its proxies and decimated them. Now thanks to president trump's tough negotiations, iran is at the weakest point in decades and hostages are returning home.
▶ 0:34:26Chair Risch: The middle east now has an opportunity to free itself from iran's grip and america will be safer for it. To promote stability and protect our national security we need to continue to support israel's efforts however we can including providing them the weapons it needs to defend itself and working with israel to ensure american and israeli hostages are brought home from the clutches of hamas.
▶ 0:34:52Chair Risch: Governor huckabee, I look forward to hearing how you will support our ally and help support and facilitate peace and stability in the region. Mr. cabrera, panama is a strategic ally and our partnership is anchored in shared economic and security interests. The united states is panama's largest foreign investor investing in a range of sectors.
▶ 0:35:19Chair Risch: China seeks to undermine our work, particularly when it comes to the canal. The president's right to focus on china's involvement in this critical infrastructure. China will continue to use its footholds to threaten the U.S. and our economic interests. We need to counter his presence and make sure china cannot control shipping like a pawn in its chess game.
▶ 0:35:44Chair Risch: More must be done to counter transnational criminal organizations that profit from illegal migration and the trafficking of illicit narcotics that kill americans. President trump is leading the charge on a generational shift in american politics and foreign policy. The president meant business when he told the american people that he would put their interests first and he has taken extraordinary action in his first weeks in office to make this happen. Mr.
▶ 0:36:12Chair Risch: Rubinstein, as legal advisor you would provide secretary rubio with sound legal advice as he executes president trump's foreign policy agenda. Your background in complex litigation and prior experience will serve you well in this role, just like all of the nominees who have testified before us, you will have a big job.
▶ 0:36:35Chair Risch: You will be tasked with defending the interest of this great nation during a very turbulent time. Americans are counting on your leadership. I look forward to a productive conversation today and for all of your swift confirmations. Thank you.
▶ 0:36:51Sen. Shaheen: Thank you Mr. chairman. Before I get to my prepared remarks, I would like to express concern about the sharing of classified information that has been such a big story on the news in the last 24 hours.
▶ 0:37:13Sen. Shaheen: And, I hope that this committee will express our concern about sharing classified information with the department of state as secretary rubio was on that call. And also with making sure that we are safeguarding critical information as the records act requires.
▶ 0:37:33Sen. Shaheen: So, as a member of the intelligence committee, I know you know better than most how important this is, and I hope you will join me in making sure that we send this message to the department of state. Now, I would like to welcome our nominees, your families and supporters who are here with you today.
▶ 0:37:57Sen. Shaheen: From representing the united states and our embassies in israel and panama to serving as the legal advisor the entire department of state -- of state the posts are incredibly consequential. In the wake of the hamas attack's and israel's campaign in gaza we have been working to avoid escalation and a larger regional war that would not only threaten all of our allies, but dangerous for the united states.
▶ 0:38:25Sen. Shaheen: I believe the cease-fire that the trump administration helped implement was a good first step. However, I do not agree with the idea of the U.S. owning gaza or forcibly displacing gazans as the president has suggested. Getting drawn in to this conflict and putting american troops on the ground would be a disaster.
▶ 0:38:48Sen. Shaheen: But the cease-fire began an important process of getting israeli hostages returned home and opened up opportunities for humanitarian aid to reach palestinians. Sadly, with israel resuming the attacks, violence has returned and the entire region is threatened. Instead of moving to a second phase, we are standing by and watching as the cease-fire agreement comes undone.
▶ 0:39:15Sen. Shaheen: It is important for us to get parties back to the negotiating table to focus on phase two, and to get all the hostages released to achieve long-term peace and security for israelis and palestinians. Mr. huckabee, I know that you have supported israeli annexation of the west bank and advocated for total israeli control of palestinian territory as we discussed yesterday when you were kind enough to meet with me.
▶ 0:39:44Sen. Shaheen: This rhetoric is highly incendiary across the middle east and the entire muslim world. And so, I hope that you will think about how to advance long-term peace and stability in the region. Mr. cabrera, I am concerned about the threats from this administration towards a friendly government in our own hemisphere and that is panama.
▶ 0:40:11Sen. Shaheen: I take the risk of chinese influence seriously along the panama canal and across the region. And I'm concerned that escalating threats about the U.S. reclaiming the canal, even if they are only meant as a start for negotiations or to extract concessions that have dangerous consequences. If confirmed he will be leading the american embassy in panama at a time where sound judgment and experience are needed.
▶ 0:40:39Sen. Shaheen: I hope that you will speak to your plan to ensure that threats and saber rattling not lead panama and other countries to hedge their bets with united states to drive them to explore closer rather than more distant relationships with china in the long term. Finally, Mr. rubinstein, if confirmed you will hold one of the most significant positions at the state department as the legal advisor.
▶ 0:41:05Sen. Shaheen: You will be providing legal advice on areas that are critical to national security, but in many cases areas that are the focus of a relentless attack by this administration and elon musk. Your advice would cover visa operations and border security, hiring and firing decisions, sexual discrimination in the workplace, the security of sensitive data, the payment of foreign assistance and operating funds.
▶ 0:41:34Sen. Shaheen: Many of these issues have been the bedrock of six decades of investment that made the united states more respected and influential than any other nation. I have always supported reforming government and making sure that the tax dollars are spent wisely. But across the foreign-policy and national security agencies, the administration has acted without regard to U.S. laws and congress to establish agencies and how funds should be spent.
▶ 0:42:01Sen. Shaheen: I hope you will address in your remarks what role you believe congress plays in these questions or whether the president using this theory of the unitary executive has the right to override congressional authorizations and appropriations. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and insights. Thank you.
▶ 0:42:19Chair Risch: Thank you senator shaheen. I should respond briefly to the comments regarding the leakage on the intelligence matter. I spoke with secretary rubio about this at length yesterday. And he sat next to me on the intelligence committee for 15 years. He has really aware of this kinds of things.
▶ 0:42:43Chair Risch: We have leaks that happen from time to time and I can assure you that his knowledge is such an commitment is such that he had no knowledge of there being that tap on that when he was communicating. This is a matter that is going to be investigated and we will learn more as the facts rollout. From the state department standpoint, I can assure you that there was nobody at the state department that was aware at all that there was a leakage going on.
▶ 0:43:12Chair Risch: I appreciate your concern and I do not think there is anybody that would not be concerned about that very seriously. So, we will move on the best we can. We will do a round of questions. I want to start with Mr. cabrera on regarding the -- I am sorry. Go ahead. Let us start with Mr. huckabee.
▶ 0:43:39Mr. Huckabee: Chairman, and ranking member, distinguished members of the committee, I want to say thank you very much. [shouting]
▶ 0:44:03Chair Risch: Sorry about that. The committee will come back to order. Please, proceed.
▶ 0:44:08Mr. Huckabee: I will mark them down undecided, senator. I want to thank you for the privilege of coming before you as you conduct a constitutional obligation of advise and consent of those nominated by the president to serve as an abbasid or to our beloved nation. -- ambassador to our nation.
▶ 0:44:31Mr. Huckabee: The founders said that senate approval was not necessarily agreement with the president, the policies or entities selected to represent them. But the senate confirms that they determine moral and legal fitness to serve. I am aware that not everyone on this committee will agree with the policies or his personnel choices in his administration. I am not here to articulate or defend my own views or policies.
▶ 0:45:02Mr. Huckabee: But to present myself as one who will respect and represent the overwhelmingly elected president. President trump's historic first-term success with the abraham accords I believe gives us real hope of what will happen over the next four years. I am grateful that president trump charged me with the extraordinary privilege to serve as ambassador to the state of israel if confirmed.
▶ 0:45:28Mr. Huckabee: I am blessed to have a wonderful and supportive family, especially my wife of almost 51 years who is with me today. I am sure some of you are thinking that we look quite young to have been married 51 years. We got married when we were 18, and in arkansas we were considered late bloomers. My three adult children and seven grandchildren are watching and I am grateful for them.
▶ 0:45:55Mr. Huckabee: I grew up in a small shotgun rented house in a little town called hope. No mail upstream for me had ever graduated from high school. The very notion that I would one day got -- be governor of my state or be nominated to serve as ambassador would have been laughable in my childhood. I stand here grateful to god for his grace and goodness.
▶ 0:46:27Mr. Huckabee: It is the only explanation for my being here. I would say the same for the nation I have been nominated to deploy to. Israel is a tiny nation the size of new jersey. And, it is the only rational explanation for its existence in various forms of the past 3500 years would be -- >> huckabee uses his views of christianity to justify ethnic
▶ 0:47:00Mr. Huckabee: Cleansing. Free palestine. [indistinct shouting]
▶ 0:47:11Chair Risch: The good news is -- >> the good news is that they are not members of my family which might be the case. I first visited almost 52 years ago and it was the summer of 1973 and three months before the yom kippur war. I was 17 years old out of high school and it was a month before my 18th birthday. Despite my growing up in poverty, my soon-to-be college roommate came from an affluent family.
▶ 0:47:42Chair Risch: We were the prince and the pauper. My friend wanted to take a trip to the meaning -- to middle east and his father was willing to let him go only if I went along and the father offered to pay my way to make it possible. In that summer we went to jordan, lebanon, syria, greece, turkey --turkiye, cyprus and israel. It was israel that had an impact on me that 52 years later I still find hard to explain.
▶ 0:48:14Chair Risch: I started taking groups of people to visit and 1981 and I led tens of thousands of people to visit the bible lands. The number of trips that I made probably approximates 100. I have made deep and lasting friendships among jewish and arab populations. >> stop the ethnic cleansing.
▶ 0:48:45Mr. Huckabee: I still believe it is the promised land. It is holy ground to jews, christians and muslims. Since 1948, when israel was finally recognized as an independent jewish state, it has always been under attack. The first nation to officially recognize israel was the united states when harry truman did so within minutes of it being constituted as an independent state.
▶ 0:49:11Mr. Huckabee: Israel faced an immediate war in 1948 from the nations that surrounded it and another one in 1956, 1967, 1973 and others in 1982, 1990, and 2014. Hamas launched an attack october 7, 2023 against innocent civilians including pregnant women, elderly people, and even babies.
▶ 0:49:41Mr. Huckabee: The impact of that massacre continues to this very day. The ongoing war, and the situation with the hostages including american citizens makes this assignment urgent. This body acted with bipartisanship and great dispatch as a result of the october 7 massacre of israeli citizens when our most recent ambassador was nominated by president biden.
▶ 0:50:12Mr. Huckabee: That sense of urgency has not dimmed, and the war still continues. For that reason I respectfully ask your thoughtful consideration of confirmation to become our nation's ambassador to the state of israel. Thank you.
▶ 0:50:27Chair Risch: Thank you. Mr. cabrera?
▶ 0:50:31Mr. Cabrera: Thank you. Chairman, ranking member and distinguished committee members, it is an honor to be here. I am grateful for president trump to nominate me to the next U.S. ambassador the republic of panama and to secretary rubio for his support. I look forward to beginning my work in panama and serving the people of the united states of america.
▶ 0:50:56Mr. Cabrera: I appreciate the opportunities I have had to meet with you and discuss our relationship with panama. I take this opportunity to serve as ambassador with great seriousness and clarity of purpose. If confirmed I look forward to continuing our dialogue on national politics and ensuring our strengths and partnerships with panama. As a proud first-generation american and son of cuban exiles I carry a deep appreciation for the opportunities given to this family.
▶ 0:51:24Mr. Cabrera: The journey from hardship to freedom and success has shaped my values and reinforced my commitment to the ideals of democracy. This personal history instills a strong sense of duty to uphold these principles and work for our nation's interest. From day one president trump made it clear that U.S. policy must prioritize the interest of america and its citizens.
▶ 0:51:48Mr. Cabrera: His policy directive reaffirmed the commitment to achieving peace through strength while ensuring that the diplomacy reflects U.S. values and security. As I sit here before you I cook -- I recall the confirmation hearing where he outlined a clear and principal vision for U.S. foreign policy. One rooted in strength, purpose and accountability. He framed it three fundamental questions does this make america stronger? Does this make america safer and more prosperous?
▶ 0:52:20Mr. Cabrera: These reflect a core mission of american diplomacy. They serve as a guiding framework that I fully embrace. I take this charge seriously knowing that representing the united states abroad is a privilege and solemn duty. A mother, a woman of faith, reminded me to whom much is given, much is expected. Her wisdom and resilience have shaped my approach to service. She taught me that faith and hard work and overcome the greatest obstacles, a lesson I carry forward.
▶ 0:52:51Mr. Cabrera: The U.S.-panama relationship is of paramount proof -- importance. Our partnership spans a wide range of areas including security concerns, immigration cooperation and economic engagement. This relationship is viable -- is vital to the stability of the western hemisphere. One of the key aspects is the security of the panama canal, a critical waterway that facilitates global trade and economic growth.
▶ 0:53:19Mr. Cabrera: Our collaborative efforts to maintain canal neutrality are essential for safeguarding this asset. Recent action such as the decision to exit the belt and wrote initiative and audit the concessions demonstrate their concessions. Immigration cooperation is another cornerstone of our relationship. Both nations faced challenges related to illegal -- immigration.
▶ 0:53:45Mr. Cabrera: By working together we can develop effective strategies to manage immigration flows, combat human trafficking and enhance border security while contributing to long-term reasonable stability. Economic engagement between united states and panama is a critical component. The U.S. investment support energy production, structure development and foster economic resilience and growth.
▶ 0:54:11Mr. Cabrera: While working to enhance supply chain resiliency and further strengthen our economic ties and benefit both nations. I have worked across party lines to advance policies that benefit our community. I have the support of democrat leaders including the mayor of miami-dade county, the former minority leader of the floor, quixote mcgee, who is with us today and oscar brandon.
▶ 0:54:38Mr. Cabrera: These partnerships demonstrate my ability to build consensus and work in the best interest of the people that we serve. I would bring the same spirit of collaboration to my role as ambassador, ensuring that foreign policy remains a unifying force for american interest. Mr. chairman, ranking member, and members of this committee, our relationship with panama has a direct impact on the safety, security, and prosperity of the american people.
▶ 0:55:06Mr. Cabrera: It would be an honor to protect american citizens. I recognize the obligation and the policies of the united states, and I recognize the responsibilities that I have to the constitution, the president, secretary rubio and congress members of the united states. Thank you for your time and I look forward to answering your questions.
▶ 0:55:27Chair Risch: Thank you. Mr. rubinstein?
▶ 0:55:31Mr. Rubinstein: Thank you Mr. chairman, ranking member and members of the committee. It is an honor of a lifetime to appear before you here today as president trump's nominee to serve as legal advisor to the department of state. I am humbled and grateful for the confidence and the trust of the president and secretary of state rubio.
▶ 0:56:00Mr. Rubinstein: I will work relentlessly to help make america safe, strong, and prosperous again. Thank you as well to the members and staff of this committee. I deeply appreciate the time that you have made available to me. If confirmed, I look forward to working closely with you.
▶ 0:56:22Mr. Rubinstein: Over the course of my career I have had the great good fortune and work with and learn from accomplished men and women of great moral strength and a great commitment to our nation, citizens, and constitution. Some of them are with us today from the america first legal foundation. To my friends, colleagues, and teachers, I thank you.
▶ 0:56:46Mr. Rubinstein: Thank you to my dear family, my wife betsy, our children, three sons and three daughters in law. Our seven and soon to be eight grandchildren. My siblings, and their spouses. I wish to acknowledge my mother. She and her twin sister, natives of flint michigan turned 80 93 days ago and both are going strong.
▶ 0:57:12Mr. Rubinstein: They prove that flint, for decades in american manufacturing powerhouse once knew how to make great things that last. I am incredibly blessed to be here before you. If confirmed, it would be my privilege to lead more than 300 lawyers and staff. These great professionals are acknowledged to be the best international lawyers in the world.
▶ 0:57:37Mr. Rubinstein: Edwin d williamson served with great distinction as the legal advisor for james baker has opined that the legal advisor's responsibility and role should be to use the best legal skills to reach correct legal decisions that give the client most legal options for reaching their desired goal. I share his opinion. President trump and secretary rubio's policies, orders and directives are crystal clear.
▶ 0:58:06Mr. Rubinstein: The department must champion american interests and always put america in american citizens first. It has been tasked with defending american sovereignty and protecting the rule of law. This means excluding or removing aliens including student visa holders who violate our laws preach or call for sectarian violence, for overthrowing or replacing the culture in which our constable -- constitutional republic stands or provide aid or support for foreign
▶ 0:58:39Mr. Rubinstein: Terrorists such as a b steel port -- perpetrators of the october 7 atrocities. The department has been charged with securing better national and economic results for our citizens by restoring statecraft as a policy. If confirmed, I will work with my career in political colleagues to provide the best possible legal advice and counsel to get these things done.
▶ 0:59:05Mr. Rubinstein: If confirmed, this would be the second time that I have served as the cabinet agency's general counsel. During that first first trump administration the departments of treasury, and just as I was the acting general counsel.
▶ 0:59:23Mr. Rubinstein: I work closely and collaboratively with clear and -- career and a political attorney's, department of justice colleagues and other federal agency partners and congressional members and staff to expose and combat malign foreign influence in the U.S. higher education industry. We uncovered 20,000 unreported foreign transactions totaling $17 billion.
▶ 0:59:49Mr. Rubinstein: We facilitated multiple law enforcement actions and amplified congressional oversight. Our work was lawful, effective and it put america and american citizens first. If confirmed I will bring that same energy and collaborative vivos to my work at the department of state. In january, secretary rubio appeared and affirmed that we need a strong and confident america that engages in the world while putting our core national interests above all else.
▶ 1:00:20Mr. Rubinstein: President trump was elected to keep a promise that promotes peace and prosperity at home. Therefore secretary rubio has pledged that every dollar we spend and every program we fund and every policy we pursue must make america safer, stronger, and more prosperous. If confirmed, the authors of the legal advisor will provide the advice and counsel that the secretary needs to help the department honor this pledge.
▶ 1:00:49Mr. Rubinstein: We will carefully study the facts of each issue before us and rigorously test, analyze, and apply the applicable law. We will be faithful to the constitution and controlling supreme court precedents. We will do our work with excellence, honor, and integrity. Thank you to your consideration.
▶ 1:01:08Chair Risch: Thank you and we appreciate that. We will now go to a round of five-minute questions. And I want to start with you, Mr. cabrera. I am embarrassed to say that one of my predecessors from idaho was sitting on this committee when the panama canal was given away. He collaborated with the president and the result was that we lost the panama canal.
▶ 1:01:35Chair Risch: I disagreed with him vehemently as did the people of the state of idaho, which had drastic consequences for him in the next election. Nonetheless, he got it done before he left. Now, we are in a position where that particular piece of real estate is incredibly important to the united states from a national security standpoint.
▶ 1:02:02Chair Risch: Fortunately, there were some provisions in the treaty that was negotiated at that time to give us a foothold. Could you give us your thoughts on how we could reverse the situation?
▶ 1:02:15Mr. Cabrera: Thank you Mr. chairman for the question. I think president trump and secretary rubio during secretary rubio's first trip abroad that shows the importance, he articulated that he felt that the neutrality portion of the treaty, article four might be in violation.
▶ 1:02:37Mr. Cabrera: He has made great strides during this past 60 days where we have seen canada to be the first country to turn back the belton road initiative and the first two exit. We have seen the potential sale moving forward with ck hutchinson, two american honda -- two american companies. I am optimistic that we can continue.
▶ 1:03:02Mr. Cabrera: I look forward to working with this committee and secretary rubio and president trump to make those strides. It is not just the chinese influence in the canal. We have seen it in all facets of their society. You look at the city which has received traffic cameras and streetlight cameras from the chinese government. Or, the cloud storage and who has access. You look at some of the cranes in the port which are chinese. Do they have access to the technology?
▶ 1:03:33Mr. Cabrera: As a county commissioner we have oversight over the port and airport. And we face similar questions when we put out to bid cranes as to what security issues might come with -- many times they underbid, and they are government owned in china and they will underbid to make sure that you buy the crane because that will be an issue. Who has access to the information that the cranes might have and can they stop them? It raises concerns.
▶ 1:04:01Mr. Cabrera: What I am optimistic about is about the great progress that secretary rubio has made along with president trump. It is a concern that they articulate regarding the chinese influence. It does not just extend the canal. But to the society and the western hemisphere.
▶ 1:04:17Chair Risch: I wish you well in your endeavors in that regard and we will see if we cannot get our hands back on what was the largest undertaking outside of the united states of the federal government in a construction way. Mr. rubinstein, one of the real issues we had with the last administration and it was a bipartisan concern. It was not just myself.
▶ 1:04:42Chair Risch: Myself and at that time chairman of the committee did our best to extricate information regarding the rob nally matter and we got stiff armed by the administration and state department. We still do not have a full accounting. I am very much interested and I suspect that the ranking member is also interested. I think I know what happened only because of rumors.
▶ 1:05:09Chair Risch: Would you commit to giving us a full briefing so we could have an understanding on what happened and what we need to do about it?
▶ 1:05:15Mr. Rubinstein: Thank you. I am also interested in that. I can commit that if confirmed I will consult with my colleagues and get right into the facts because obviously I will communicate with congress appropriately and lawfully.
▶ 1:05:39Mr. Rubinstein: As I mentioned, in the last go around as a general counsel, I worked very closely with congress and I am a big believer in keeping the lines of munication and I fully intend to do the same thing on this issue and others as appropriate.
▶ 1:05:58Chair Risch: Mr. huckabee, to me the middle east is changing and has changed dramatically over the last decade or so. I think people will look back and say the abraham accords were the pivotal points where the change of place. Do you agree that normalization between israel and saudi is of paramount goal for every one of us to engage in to finish out what the abraham accords have started?
▶ 1:06:25Mr. Huckabee: Without a doubt that is one of the most urgent things to happen. There is no reason that there is not a build upon the abraham accords, they were historic and significant in so many ways and brought the reality whether it is trade or tourist, -- tourism the trade of military intelligence for everyone's safety security benefits. Everyone has the pretty much common adversary and enemy and that is iran.
▶ 1:06:56Mr. Huckabee: They seem hell-bent on wreaking havoc throughout the entire world starting in the middle east. So, I believe the president is in an incredible position to build upon what he did on his first term, expanding the abraham accords to include not only the saudis but other gulf state nations and I would look forward very much to working with all of you to see that to fruition.
▶ 1:07:24Chair Risch: Thank you. With that I will turn to senator shaheen.
▶ 1:07:29Sen. Shaheen: Thank you. I'm going to start with you, Mr. rubinstein. Your job at the state department, as I understand is not to foreign policy but to provide legal advice to secretary rubio and president trump on their proposed policies. In your opening statement you talked about working in a way that was lawful about your faithful commitment to the constitution.
▶ 1:07:56Sen. Shaheen: Can I just ask, you commit to following the law and advising against any policy or action that would violate federal law if confirmed?
▶ 1:08:11Mr. Rubinstein: I am sorry. Any action that would violate federal law?
▶ 1:08:17Sen. Shaheen: Any policy or action that would violate federal law. It does not seem like a difficult question.
▶ 1:08:25Mr. Rubinstein: Thank you. I commit to applying the law and working with my colleagues internally in the department of state on more complex issues, the way that we did it before was to reach outside and consult with the department of justice and the office of legal counsel.
▶ 1:08:51Mr. Rubinstein: And, providing our client with the best possible legal advice outlining various options and potential consequences of different courses of action.
▶ 1:09:00Sen. Shaheen: Again, let me ask if you could give me a yes or no question. Do you commit to following the law and to advising against policies or actions that would violate current federal law?
▶ 1:09:15Mr. Rubinstein: I am not sure it lends necessarily to a yes or no answer. The law is a conversation and that is one of the great things about it which is why it has been so interesting.
▶ 1:09:27Sen. Shaheen: I have been married to an attorney for 56 years and I understand what you are saying. I am asking a yes or no question.
▶ 1:09:37Mr. Rubinstein: Again, I mean yes, the job of the federal government writ broadly is to follow the law. That is not a controversial proposition at all. Where the rubber hits the road is when you are looking at the margins.
▶ 1:09:57Mr. Rubinstein: And, I know this of interest in talking with staff and talking with your staff, the questions about relative legalities of certain separation of powers issues on matters that will come before the department. There it gets into a gray area. You end up in discussions about what -- what the relative balance is between congress and the executive. Often, there is not an absolutely clear answer.
▶ 1:10:27Mr. Rubinstein: So -- yes, federal.
▶ 1:10:29Sen. Shaheen: I will take that as a note based on what you said -- no based on what you said. I will have to say that that makes me concerned. Given some of your past online postings, for example last year you posted alleging that the biden administration was engaged in a massive program to overthrow the israeli government, you really believe that?
▶ 1:10:53Mr. Rubinstein: I do not have the checks that were written. But I do believe that there are facts to support that statement. We know that in 2015 a committee of the senate did a report on an outfit called one voice. During the obama administration the state department was running money to fund an antigovernment operation inside of israel.
▶ 1:11:21Mr. Rubinstein: The senate permanent subcommittee on investigations did the work in the report was not acknowledged much in the united states but it made an impact in israel when it was issued. Many of the same people who were involved in the obama administration's state department came back under president biden. And it appears to us, or appears to me, based upon emails that I obtained through the freedom of information act and that we read the same playbook was being run.
▶ 1:11:53Mr. Rubinstein: We have emails from an american ngo, and all of this is public record and I invite you to read it.
▶ 1:11:58Sen. Shaheen: I have heard these conspiracy theories before. But -- I have been here through the obama administration and through the first trump administration and through the biden administration and I can tell you that I never heard anybody in any of those administrations talking about a multi-front war trying to overthrow the israeli government. I do not believe it.
▶ 1:12:25Sen. Shaheen: And I hear you saying that and trying to justify that as a conspiracy theory. I guess, what confidence can you give me and this committee that you can provide impartial, unbiased legal advice that is grounded in facts and the law? So far you are not convincing me.
▶ 1:12:47Mr. Rubinstein: With respect to the senate report from the permanent subcommittee on investigations, I did not write that. That came out of this body. With respect to the emails that I read between the ngo's and barbara lee if, I did not write those either. They say what they say. Perhaps they lend themselves to different interpretations and I am willing to concede that. I believe there is a good faith basis.
▶ 1:13:15Mr. Rubinstein: With respect to my legal advice, there is a difference between advocacy and providing careful and you said you've been married to a lawyer for 56 years. There is a difference between advocacy and providing a client with careful and proper legal advice.
▶ 1:13:32Mr. Rubinstein: The way that I have worked in private practice and in my last stint in government and the way I work here is to rigorously review the facts and learn as much as you can about the situation, apply the relevant authorities, consult with your colleagues and look for the subject matter experts and at the department of state we are blessed with some of the best international law experts in the world to be able to draw on that knowledge and consult my
▶ 1:14:04Mr. Rubinstein: Colleagues on the legal counsel and department of justice and provide the decision-makers with the best possible legal advice. And that is what I will do.
▶ 1:14:11Sen. Shaheen: Thank you. >> thank you. I will think all of your nominees for your past public service and then also for the willingness to serve our great nation. And for your families to also have sacrificed and served along with you. Thank you.
▶ 1:14:30Sen. Shaheen: The popular resistance committee is the third largest terrorist organization in gaza and a puppet in iran and after decades of attacks including the october 7 attack where -- with both american and israeli blood on its hands. Despite this it has yet to be properly designated and sanctions.
▶ 1:14:52Sen. Shaheen: Senator schiff and I will be introducing the accountability for terraced perpetrators of october 7 attack which will cut off the people's resistance committee is from the global financial markets. Governor huckabee, do you agree that the U.S. should hold all terrorists groups accountable for the atrocities?
▶ 1:15:17Mr. Huckabee: Senator, a wonderful question because I feel like this is one that everyone, democrat and republican and the fact you have bipartisan support is significant. I cannot imagine any right minded person would find it acceptable to support or even acknowledge there was justification in any way for the massacre of innocent civilians
▶ 1:15:48Mr. Huckabee: On october 7. If I'm confirmed, I will be absolutely clear to carry the president's policies. They have been clear that hamas will have no future in gaza. It can't. This was not simply a cold-blooded murder in which people came across the borders and shot innocent people. They massacred them. They did it in a way that was most physically painful.
▶ 1:16:20Mr. Huckabee: In the way that was most personally humiliating. Worse, they videotaped themselves doing it because they were out of it. They published it with pride. They announced repeatedly they would do it again. Hamas is not a government, not a standing army. It is a terrorist organization and they acted like it and they must be treated as such.
▶ 1:16:44Mr. Huckabee: It confirmed, I would hope the unfortunate, horrific war resulted -- that resulted in many deaths, including americans, the taking of hostages for a longer period than the hostages in 1979 were taken during the iranian takeover, all that could come to an end. There could be accountability for what was done to jewish people on october 7 of 2023.
▶ 1:17:16Mr. Huckabee: >> can I have your commitment to work on this piece of legislation that will hold the people's resistance committees accountable and sanction and designated? Is that fair?
▶ 1:17:29Gov. Huckabee: Unflinchingly, I commit to you to do that very thing. >> thank you. Let's move on to our ron. The ayatollah is really. Hamas and hezbollah have been decimated. The air defense has been wiped out by the idf and thanks to president trump, re-imposing maximum pressure, including sanctions on the teapot refineries, the economy is in freefall.
▶ 1:18:01Gov. Huckabee: It remains to be seen if iran will come to the table were spread or build a nuclear weapon. President trump gave tehran two months to deal or risk severe consequences. Iran being closer than ever to having a nuclear weapon is a threat to israel, the essays, and global security. It cannot be allowed to happen. Do you agree with president trump that iran cannot have a nuclear weapon?
▶ 1:18:29Gov. Huckabee: I appreciate the question. He gives me the opportunity to let you know I absolutely believe that the president is taking the right of action. He did in his first term. The maximum pressure bankrupted the iranians. Made it impossible to fund has 11 hamas. -- has below and hamas -- hezbollah and thomas. -- hamas.
▶ 1:19:00Gov. Huckabee: They didn't use it to help their people. They murdered people. I'm grateful to serve a president who recognizes that iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and it is better to bankrupt them than it is to bomb them.
▶ 1:19:17Sen. Ricketts: Governor, you are right. The trump administration took iran's foreign reserves down to under $14 billion. That prevented them from funding groups like hamas, hezbollah, and the houthis. The policy of sanctioning them is exactly the right course. Thank you very much.
▶ 1:19:39Chair Risch: Thank. -- thank you. Senator booker.
▶ 1:19:45Sen. Booker: Governor, good to see you here. My office list with this fear. There an american being held right now in gaza. Knowing everyday he's being tortured, is suffering, and that of his family in new jersey is one of the central urgencies of my staff and my team.
▶ 1:20:17Sen. Booker: We know we see the hostage releases happened during cease fires. During those times pathways to peace are open that would relieve the suffering of innocent palestinians as well. We know moss cannot remaining troll -- hamas cannot remain in control.
▶ 1:20:38Sen. Booker: They must surrender so we can start the reconstruction and secure the safety and security of not just palestinians but israelis as well. Again, but grief hanging over many of those who know the families involved makes central clarity getting this done.
▶ 1:21:01Sen. Booker: I think one of your most important missions, should you be confirmed, is getting the release of the hostages and aiding the end of the nightmare that is fueling the suffering of israelis and palestinians. Tactically, I'm curious your thoughts especially given the cease fires that have enabled moments where hostages have been released.
▶ 1:21:30Sen. Booker: During the first cease fire we saw releases of numerous hostages and commitments being made. I'm wondering if you can comment on what your thoughts are about how your role can help us get edon home and in the nightmare -- end the nightmare.
▶ 1:21:52Gov. Huckabee: I appreciate your question. Let me say emphatically it would not be one of the most important things I would consider on my duty list it confirmed. It would be the most important thing.
▶ 1:22:09Gov. Huckabee: That american citizen from new jersey that you care deeply about and you have worked so diligently with, and I'm deeply grateful for the efforts you have made without, that has to be the first item of business before anything else. Every hostage should have already been home. The only reason they are not is because of hamas.
▶ 1:22:33Gov. Huckabee: Hamas has used them as bargaining chips, used them to torture, used them for when they do release often only because they feel compelled and absolutely obligated to give them one more day of survival, they do so in the most horrific way. By humiliating the hostages.
▶ 1:22:53Sen. Booker: One more question I want to get done. I interrupt because I don't disagree with anything you're saying. I was there in october 7. The viciousness and brutality of that attack that triggered this whole thing lies at the feet of this terrorist organization. You and I are in complete agreement. What I'm hoping I can get in writing, because I would like to get to my next question, we still have strategic and tactical decisions to make.
▶ 1:23:24Sen. Booker: You will be one of the players at the table. Your affirmation and confirmation this will be the most important thing, getting the united states citizen home, I hear that and I would like to be able to discuss that with you. The second question I have. The jerusalem post reported that the trump administration's pivot to russia's making our allies, including israel, wary of sharing intelligence. Fearing that doing so could expose assets.
▶ 1:23:54Sen. Booker: There is precedent for this concern. On may 10, 2017, while meeting with the russian foreign minister and ambassador to washington, trump shared intelligence about an islamic state threat with specifics that came from a spike embedded in the terrorist group on behalf of israel. Israel press reported trump's leak placed that person's life at risk and cut off israel from his intel. Fast-forward.
▶ 1:24:25Sen. Booker: Yesterday we learned the highest ranking national security officials in the administration, the head of the cia, director of national intelligence, secretary of state and others discussed sensitive and imminent military operations in a commercial and unclassified messaging app enacted in the included a reporter that chat.
▶ 1:24:47Sen. Booker: This seems to be a pattern and practice of the administration to be using unclassified platforms for these kind of communications. I deeply value our relationship with israel. Does it concern you are closest ally is hesitant to share intelligence because they fear the trump administration in the top intelligence officials cannot be trusted and are continuing to give evidence to that effect?
▶ 1:25:11Gov. Huckabee: With appreciation for the question, I can only tell you I have seen some news reports but not detailed. I have no knowledge of what has actually happened. It confirmed, I will work diligently with the president and all of my colleagues to ensure there is integrity in all that is done. I have confidence the president will charge me with that responsible. -- response ability.
▶ 1:25:43Gov. Huckabee: -- responsibility.
▶ 1:25:47Sen. Booker: Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:25:49Sen. Shaheen: Thank you, senator booker. Senator daines.
▶ 1:25:55Sen. Daines: Governor, it is good to see you. Janet as well. Thank you for being before this committee. I think this is perhaps the single most important relationship we have on the earth, the and israel. If confirmed -- the united states and israel. If confirmed, you will be an important ambassador.
▶ 1:26:23Sen. Daines: I'm grateful for this president and the team he has assembled on the moral clarity they are bringing back to israel and the middle east. The world will be safer from the strong leadership of the trump administration. Governor, I was in israel a month before the october 7 attack. We did not know that was coming. I was there. Went to the north, went down to those hezbollah calls the don't get a lot of attention. 80 feet down into the ground.
▶ 1:26:54Sen. Daines: Extensive tunnel networks spray-painted inside, "on our way to jerusalem." hezbollah was using that as a way to infiltrate israel for an organized attack on the north. There is no question that terrorist and state sponsors like iran continue to plot for the annihilation of israel. My question is how important do you think it is for israel to normalize relations with U.S.
▶ 1:27:26Sen. Daines: Partners like saudi arabia? I remember my meeting with bibi. It was late august. It was great optimism with israel and saudi arabia. I think it would be a breakthrough moment for the middle east. It was shattered with what happened on october 7. I hope and pray we will be back to working with the saudi's in seeing israel and saudi arabia normalize their relationship.
▶ 1:27:51Sen. Daines: How important do you think it is that link between israel and saudi arabia and what should our role as the united states be in that regard?
▶ 1:28:00Gov. Huckabee: I appreciate the question. The president made it clear --
▶ 1:28:06Chair Risch: Suspend. [shouting]
▶ 1:28:14Chair Risch: Continue.
▶ 1:28:16Gov. Huckabee: Thank you, Mr. chairman. The president made it clear it is one of his highest priorities to bring that level of cooperation -- >> [shouting]
▶ 1:28:30Chair Risch: Out! Mr. huckabee.
▶ 1:28:36Gov. Huckabee: Thank you again. The third times the charm so let me see if I can do it. The president made it clear that his goal is to see a lasting peace in the entire middle east. Part of that would have to include the saudi arabia government, other governments of the gulf states, and all those who really do wish to recognize that there is not a threat from israel towards them.
▶ 1:29:08Gov. Huckabee: This is a remarkable change in the geopolitical structure. It is an incredible opportunity. I used the term I think it's possible this president could achieve something that would have -- I use the term deliberately -- biblical proportion.
▶ 1:29:24Gov. Huckabee: I mean it would be astonishing and incredible to see former enemies -- enemies who have fought wars from 1948, 56, 73 and onto becoming partners in peace. To share trade, economic development, to share tourism and free movement between the nations. It is not easy. It is not going to necessarily be quick.
▶ 1:29:52Gov. Huckabee: What you mentioned is exactly what I believe this president is committed to. He's already achieved extraordinary success in his first term. I look forward to being a part of seeing the next phase owhat we know to be the abraham accords.
▶ 1:30:10Sen. Daines: I cannot help but reflect what you said towards the end of president trump's first term. The abraham accords. The iranians weakened by the strong sanctions. Weakening the bad guys, strengthening the good guys. We went through the biden years were that was actually turned on its head. I'm grateful we are turning back to that trajectory we were on to bring peace back to the police.
▶ 1:30:40Sen. Daines: I have concerns about the status of foreign military sales sitting in purgatory at the state department waiting to be fulfilled. This committee your commitment to work towards the completion of the sales united states made to israel?
▶ 1:30:56Gov. Huckabee: If confirmed, it would be a delight and privilege to work with the secretary, the president, and the department of defense to ensure we continue the commitment we have already made. It is a long-standing commitment to the state of israel. Yes, I would commit to that.
▶ 1:31:16Sen. Daines: Governor, thank you. Mr. cabrera, the second largest free-trade zone the world, also well-known for money laundering and narcotics trafficking. How does this elicit finance in panama benefit everyone from hezbollah to hamas the trans national organizations?
▶ 1:31:43Mr. Cabrera: While not an expert in that and as a private citizen and look forward to being briefed, panama has been working with the fbi. They were removed by the action task force. They remain on the blacklist by the european union. I look forward to working with you on the different agencies to make sure they implement the proper safeguards in their financial systems to make sure they're not being used for those sorts of things they articulating.
▶ 1:32:12Mr. Cabrera: It would be risky for soldiers abroad and for our allies as well that there agencies are being used for the sorts of things.
▶ 1:32:20Sen. Daines: . -- thank you.
▶ 1:32:26Chair Risch: Senator merkley.
▶ 1:32:29Sen. Merkley: Thank you for putting yourselves forward to serving important positions governor huckabee, there are concerns -- I don't know if they are concerns of years but I thought I would ask. One of the things that has fathered me a lot is the use of the 2000 pound bombs in gaza. They are by their nature indiscriminate when they are called in -- even if they are called in to take on an identified hamas target.
▶ 1:32:57Sen. Merkley: The impact is often dozens of people and tens of dozens injured from a single bomb. The blast crater is so large. The blast radius is huge. Have you had concerns about the use of the 2000 pound bombs in the areas of gaza?
▶ 1:33:14Gov. Huckabee: Senator, I'm not confirmed therefore I do not have access to the level of information. I hope we could keep and ensure the weapons we provide include the smart weaponry.
▶ 1:33:37Sen. Merkley: That is a different question. You are saying based on the epically available information you currently have no concerns?
▶ 1:33:45Gov. Huckabee: I would want to discuss with the president.
▶ 1:33:49Sen. Merkley: We will move on. I'm trying to give you an opportunity to answer questions.
▶ 1:33:54Gov. Huckabee: I'm trying to answer.
▶ 1:33:56Sen. Merkley: Another concern is the use of humanitarian supplies as leverage in which they have been restricted time and time again. Under international law this is considered an illegitimate strategy of work. Have you concerns about israel restricting the supplies of food to gaza?
▶ 1:34:16Gov. Huckabee: They provided 700 trucks a day.
▶ 1:34:19Sen. Merkley: Caffe had concerns? If -- have you had concerns?
▶ 1:34:24Gov. Huckabee: I'm doing my best to tell you there have been massive supplies.
▶ 1:34:29Sen. Merkley: I'm going to move on because that is not true under the facts extended. There are periods where few trucks have gotten. We are in a new phase of extremely restrictive supplies. There has been many international organizations that have reported on this. I know you are not unaware of it.
▶ 1:34:52Sen. Merkley: President has a plan which he talked about having palestinians forced out of gaza and into some other country. Do you support that strategy?
▶ 1:35:02Gov. Huckabee: The president has never said he would force displacement. That is not that has not been his statement for policy. Rather to make sure there is a safe and secure place for people to live during the process of cleaning out what is a disastrous mess.
▶ 1:35:23Sen. Merkley: Which would be outside of gaza. That safe and secure place would be outside of gaza. Are you comfortable with palestinians whether they are invited or incentivized or whatever that they should be moved out of gaza?
▶ 1:35:38Gov. Huckabee: They should not be forced unless it is for their own security.
▶ 1:35:44Sen. Merkley: For their own security they could be forced out of gaza than?
▶ 1:35:49Gov. Huckabee: I'm sorry.
▶ 1:35:50Sen. Merkley: He said if it is for their own security they could be forced out west and
▶ 1:35:54Mark Gov. Huckabee: The president never said that. He's never spoken about forced displacement but providing -- a safe haven away from the unexploded --
▶ 1:36:05Sen. Merkley: Another issue that has arisen is the idea of greater israel, samaria. Was that a gavel? I'm trying to get as many questions as I can and few minutes.
▶ 1:36:28Sen. Merkley: The greater west bank and gaza, you support the as many israelis do have having a greater israel?
▶ 1:36:37Gov. Huckabee: If confirmed, it will be my duty to carry out the president's policies, not mine. One thing I will recognize that an ambassador does not create policy. He carries the policy of the country and is president.
▶ 1:36:51Sen. Merkley: You've expressed support for the west bank being israeli territory. Have you previously supported the idea of annexation of the west bank?
▶ 1:36:59Gov. Huckabee: I previously supported. It would not be my prerogative to make that the policy of the president.
▶ 1:37:07Sen. Merkley: De support the annexation of gaza as well?
▶ 1:37:10Gov. Huckabee: Once again, it would be the prerogative of the president.
▶ 1:37:15Sen. Merkley: Have you previously supported the greater vision?
▶ 1:37:21Gov. Huckabee: I don't recall.
▶ 1:37:25Sen. Merkley: Final question. Lahey law allows us to sanction units and afford military that have been violating human rights. There's been a series of cases involving certain individual idf units. Should units that carry out attacks on west bank villages be subject to full examination of the lahey law? Should israel be exempted?
▶ 1:37:56Gov. Huckabee: The president will instruct secretary rubio and Mr. rubinstein to make sure the law is followed.
▶ 1:38:06Sen. Merkley: It has never been followed yet.
▶ 1:38:09Gov. Huckabee: Let me say I think there are accusations that israel is doing things that they are not. They don't have many friends.
▶ 1:38:18Sen. Merkley: If they were doing it, you would support the lahey law applied as an american standard for human rights?
▶ 1:38:25Gov. Huckabee: I would think united states wants to follow what is right, what is legal, and it would be the president's decision to negotiate with the israelis.
▶ 1:38:38Sen. Merkley: My time is up. >> Mr. huckabee, I cannot imagine a more rewarding anymore challenging assignment under which you have been given. I'm very jealous. Utah has a special relationship with israel. I like to tease my friends until I was 18 I thought I grew up in zion in utah.
▶ 1:39:10Sen. Merkley: We have zion park and the jordan river. One of those ties is brigham young university, sponsored by the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. And is a campus there. When I was 18 years old in 1979, I spent six months on that campus. I have the opportunity to be there the day jimmy carter signed a peace accord. I bring that up.
▶ 1:39:39Sen. Merkley: I have a picture of the jerusalem post from that day to show that we can have peace. It is hard some gave their lives for the word. The president's attempt at the abraham accords is important. It is clear that utah has this tie.
▶ 1:40:05Sen. Merkley: This might be a good opportunity to send a message to utah about how you feel about our dominant faith and if you would have me carry anything back to utah.
▶ 1:40:15Gov. Huckabee: Let me be clear. I appreciate the question and opportunity. The respect I have for the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints is extraordinary. I respect very much the commitment to family, to moral righteousness, to a sense of right and wrong.
▶ 1:40:37Gov. Huckabee: Is part of what has drawn me to an understanding that israel in many ways is a reflection of our own heritage and history. It is the judeo-christian law that there is a right and a wrong upon which all of western civilization is built but certainly our system of government.
▶ 1:41:00Gov. Huckabee: There is no country across the globe that more mirrors our own struggle in our own level of democracy in the state of israel. It is one of the reasons it is a natural ally. The spiritual connections between your church, mine, many churches in america, the jewish congregations, to the state of israel is because we ultimately are people of the book. We believe the bible.
▶ 1:41:29Gov. Huckabee: Therefore, that connection is not geopolitical. It is also spiritual. To ignore that, to deny that would be to make it very difficult for us to ever understand how to go forward in a relationship with them.
▶ 1:41:47Sen. Coons: I will carry that message back to utah. I agree. I cannot imagine that now without the spiritual opportunity I had to understand both arab, jew and christian. Brigham young has a center over there on the mount of olives. I would like to invite you to meet there on the campus as you get your feet underneath you. I will help broker that agreement.
▶ 1:42:15Sen. Coons: I think that without the have either -- have you there in jerusalem.
▶ 1:42:19Gov. Huckabee: I have been there . It is a beautiful, beautiful facility on the mount of olives. It has one of the most spectacular views of the old city and all of israel.
▶ 1:42:30Sen. Coons: Will make sure there is an organ recital at your next visit.
▶ 1:42:33Gov. Huckabee: As long as I'm not required to play.
▶ 1:42:37Sen. Coons: Switching to the panama canal, Mr. cabrera, panama announced they are leaving the dri and hong kong assets divested, addressing some serious concerns. What issues need to be addressed regarding the prc's influence in the region?
▶ 1:43:00Mr. Cabrera: We have made significant inroads with secretary rubio and president trump in the concessions being sold. The panamanian government -- it doesn't just stop there, the influence that china has had with panama. You have seen it as well in cities like colon. Cybersecurity grants for cameras in the area.
▶ 1:43:27Mr. Cabrera: You know where that cloud information might be stored are we has access to it -- or who has access to it. Cranes have beginning to them by the chinese government. We have seen it where many times they will underbid the sorts of things to get there cranes in by a significant amount. A lot of companies are partially government.
▶ 1:43:49Sen. Coons: I'm out of time but I will stop you. I would like to put a plug in on the influence we can have on getting them to reverse their position, the prc, and be more accommodating for taiwan and their position on the one china principle. I regret you don't have time to answer that. I would like to lay that marker with you.
▶ 1:44:09Mr. Cabrera: If confirmed, look forward to working with you in your office.
▶ 1:44:13Chair Risch: Senator kaine.
▶ 1:44:15Sen. Kaine: Congratulations on your nominations. I want to say hello to governor huckabee. He was chair of the national governors association my first year in office and the selling governors association. My wife anne and janet and mike did good work then.
▶ 1:44:33Sen. Kaine: Really quickly, governor, what I'm looking for in an ambassador to israel and the policy about the U.S.-israel relationship, strong support for israel, condemnation of hamas, and recognition that palestinians have a right to live in a right to the state they were promised by the u.n. In 1947 when he U.S. exercised great leadership under president truman to promote both a state for jews and a state for arabs in palestine.
▶ 1:45:04Sen. Kaine: One promise has been met. One has not been. There are a million reasons for that. You have some personal points of view that would differ from mine on this. The point you make is right. You will be executing the president's policy I know you will do that. I look for some evidence of a recognition by the administration just as israel has a right to survive, palestinians have a right to live in a right to what was promised to them in 1947.
▶ 1:45:32Sen. Kaine: Just a message from this side of the dais. The president's suggestion that might be a gaza solution that involves either U.S. military presence or U.S. commercial development to me seems the height of folly. It reminds me of the united states deciding to take over the failed french colonial project in indochina. We never should have taken that over. It was disastrous. The U.S.
▶ 1:45:58Sen. Kaine: Will be needed for the very complex task of finding a solution in gaza, the west bank, and the region. Our resources qamar leadership, etc. For us to step in any kind of takeover will would only court disaster. I want to offer that. Mr. cabrera, you marched with the proud boys had to invent in coral gables, florida, and 2018.
▶ 1:46:24Sen. Kaine: In your conversations with staff you said that you were not really aware of they were in described that march motivated by your strong support for cuban democracy. Recognizing that statement that you made to committee staff, you condemn the proud boys and their ideology for the committee? -- before the committee?
▶ 1:46:43Mr. Cabrera: Thank you for the question. I condemn anyone that espouses any hate. I have said before in my editorial before the miami herald. I think there is no place for that. We have to work together and I think it would make for a better world.
▶ 1:46:58Sen. Kaine: Can you condemn the proud boys and mention them by name sitting before this committee?
▶ 1:47:03Mr. Cabrera: I condemn them and anyone who espouses hate around the world.
▶ 1:47:08Sen. Kaine: Thank you for stating that. In march of 2024, be posted on linkedin that, "k-12 teachers are almost all products of extreme left teachers training programs in the colleges. The same leftist professors provide some training on other issues.
▶ 1:47:30Sen. Kaine: The system is not fixable." a lot of this on the committee have parents, spouses, kids who are k-12 teachers. They work in education programs training k-12 teachers. Governors appointing boards of universities with intimate knowledge of teacher training programs.
▶ 1:47:54Sen. Kaine: There can be a bad apple in any organization by reading a comment like that about k-12 teachers who are almost all products of extreme left-wing teacher training programs and extracts me along the lines of what senator shaheen was asking. A political fantasy that doesn't seem like the kind of thing a careful lawyer oering narrow advice would say.
▶ 1:48:25Sen. Kaine: I think lawyers usually have narrow brushes in the paint kid. Not only brought brushes to smear everyone. -- broad brushes to smear everyone. How can a square comment like that that you will provide narrow legal advice should be confirmed?
▶ 1:48:50Sen. Kaine: Your microphone, sir.
▶ 1:48:53Mr. Rubinstein: Thank you for the question. I am a product of a public school teacher. My mom taught and the detroit political system for almost five decades. The post were referring to is advocacy, not legal advice. There is a difference. Number two, when I went to the department of education, and it has nothing to do with the department. I'm addressing your question.
▶ 1:49:22Mr. Rubinstein: It gave me a real window into what is happening in the state of the U.S. education. I was not an education lawyer. I was sent there to run the office, which I did, and take care of other things that we also did related primarily to china and whatnot.
▶ 1:49:46Mr. Rubinstein: In talking to the people there and observing the flow of things coming into the office of the general counsel, we begin to see issues arising. The way it was expressed both by career -- political and by some career is the way we train teachers in this country has some real issues. Often teacher colleges and public education are very ideological.
▶ 1:50:12Sen. Kaine: I'm over my time to let me conclude. Now you are giving a careful answer. There are some issues. There are some circumstances. Not virtually everybody is a victim of left-wing indoctrination. I will just conclude by saying what you hear within the department of education might look very different than spending time around the country in the schools that exceed train are k-12 teachers.
▶ 1:50:42Sen. Kaine: That would not be your future job. I would encourage you to spend some time outside of washington. I you back.
▶ 1:50:49Mr. Rubinstein: I agree with you. I would agree that teachers have a hard job. They do the best they can.
▶ 1:51:01Chair Risch: Thank you very much. Next up is senator haggerty.
▶ 1:51:07Sen. Kaine: -- hagerty: I want to thank you for your willingness to serve our great nation. Each of you will play a critically important role in advancing our nation's and president's foreign policy. That policy will make a marked difference when we are at a turning point as a nation and world. Mr.
▶ 1:51:32Sen. Kaine: Cabrera, I would like to start with talking about drug trafficking in the panama region. Transnational criminal organizations from countries like columbia and mexico have long used panama to smuggle illicit drugs. They have dented to the tune of billions of dollars.
▶ 1:51:54Sen. Kaine: Last year alone the state department estimates up to 40% of cocaine that was produced in columbia had transited through the exclusive economic zones of panama. For far too long these transnational criminal organizations have acted with impunity. They have made billions in profits and done this bringing these drugs into our own borders. Panama can play an outsized role in cooperating with the united states in seizing illicit drugs.
▶ 1:52:26Sen. Kaine: They can also cooperate with us to do medically scaled-down -- dramatically scale down these criminal organizations' operations. If you're confirmed, do you commit to use all the tools to ensure that the panamanian government collaborates with the united states and take strong actions against these organizations in stopping the flow of drugs into america?
▶ 1:52:49Mr. Cabrera: Thank you for that question. This issue is another one we had great success in the last 60 days since secretary rubio visited. We have seen 95% less crossings in the darien gap. A lot of the drugs coming and go for the darien gap. This is where you had over two years ago over 500,000 crossing. We talk about the southern border, those 500,000 are on their way to our southern border. In the past two months we have significant inroads.
▶ 1:53:20Mr. Cabrera: We are 95% decreased. 40% of the cocaine in the country comes through panama. Animal is a great -- panama is a great ally. They have been our number one in seizing drugs. Over 100 metric tons in a row. -- in the last four years in a row. We helped them get helicopters and boats so they can compete with these traffickers.
▶ 1:53:43Mr. Cabrera: There is work -- room for improvement but they have been a great ally and I look forward to using all the tools at our disposal to continue to make sure we stop as many metric tons of drugs coming into the border through the darien gap. It goes hand-in-hand with migration.
▶ 1:54:01Sen. Hagerty: The resources of my office will be available to you once you are ambassador. This is a critical mission that we have got to deal with.
▶ 1:54:11Mr. Cabrera: I look forward to working with you have confirmed.
▶ 1:54:14Sen. Hagerty: Governor huckabee, I appreciate our friendship. You're one of the best communicators I've ever had the chance to work with. What a beautiful skill set to bring to a critical role as the next ambassador to israel. In president trump's first term he stood by israel in a way that was unprecedented. He did it in a way that we can -- all while avoiding a costly war. You think about what happened.
▶ 1:54:45Sen. Hagerty: Dilute the embassy to jerusalem. He acknowledged israel's
▶ 1:54:50Sovereignty Over The: Heights. -- golan heights and negotiated the abraham accords. He did all this despite the pearl coaching in washington without a single war. We withdrew from the disastrous jcpoa and permitted maximum pressure -- implement in maximum pressure on iran when it was critical. I participated getting the japanese government to stop buying iranian crude oil. Ron was broke. Then something changed.
▶ 1:55:22Sovereignty Over The: The administration changed. Divide administration came in, waved the sanctions. Iran became rich again. They began to talk in ways that created distant and daylight between america and its ally, israel. That emboldened hamas and iran in meeting up to the october 7 attacks.
▶ 1:55:49Sovereignty Over The: I would like to hear your viewpoint in case you are confirmed of how important it is to you that the united states stand arm in arm with israel and not show any daylight between ourselves and our ally.
▶ 1:56:02Gov. Huckabee: Thank you. Wonderful question an opportunity to remind everyone it was during president trump's first term that there really was peace. There was peace in the middle east. He did extraordinary things to show our relationship to israel and recognizing jerusalem as the eternal and capital of the jewish people. When he moved to the mc the entire world told him not to do it. The world would blow up if he did. He did.
▶ 1:56:31Gov. Huckabee: I happen to be with him, one on one, about two weeks after he made the decision and announced it. I will never forget what he said. Why did you do it? Everyone told you not to. World leaders. People in government positions. I will never forget. He said simply because I said I would and it was the right thing to do.
▶ 1:56:56Gov. Huckabee: Senator, that is why I am honored and privileged to serve in this capacity, because I like his sense of clarity when it comes to the moral issue of standing with an ally. Right now israel needs an ally. Frankly, the jewish people need to know they have friends.
▶ 1:57:21Gov. Huckabee: There's a long line of enemies the jewish people experience across the globe and on some of her on university campuses. It will be a privilege to be able to be one of those people, not jewish -- christian, but to say to her jewish friends you will never go through what you have gone through alone we will stand behind you. We will stand with you stop Sen.
▶ 1:57:47Hagerty: Thank you.
▶ 1:57:48Chair Risch: Senator van hollen.
▶ 1:57:51Sen. Bennet: Holland -- Sen.
▶ 1:57:57Buvan Hollen: Governor huckabee, good to get together with yesterday. I only have five minutes so if you can keep your answers short I will ask your views on certain principles. It is absolutely true that the jewish state needs a friend. You also recognize there are many in the community here in the united states who disagree with the views you have expressed with respect to certain issues in israel. I want to ask about some of those.
▶ 1:58:27Buvan Hollen: You are seen as a big hero of the jewish settler movement on the west bank. You supported the idea of israeli annexation of the west bank, as you confirmed today. I want to know where you draw the line in I recognize he will be the emissary but you made a lot of common on this.
▶ 1:58:47Buvan Hollen: I'm interested in your thoughts do you agree with me it would be wrong for a jewish settler to push the palestinian family off land on the west bank that was owned by that palestinian family.
▶ 1:59:02Gov. Huckabee: There are a lot of things attributed to me that are not necessarily 100% accurate. I'm sure you have experienced that in your career Sen. van
▶ 1:59:12Hollen: That is why I'm trying to clarify.
▶ 1:59:15Gov. Huckabee: I will give you a simple answer. I believe there has to be always the law being followed. There has to be clarity. It will not be my policy implement it in the middle east. It will be the president's.
▶ 1:59:33Sen. Van Hollen: We have a palestinian family that owns the land there on. My question is, do you agree it will be wrong for a jewish settler to push that family off their land?
▶ 1:59:45Gov. Huckabee: If you're talking about stealing the land, that is a problem. If you're talking about purchasing the land, that's a legitimate transaction.
▶ 1:59:54Sen. Van Hollen: When you said in 2017, "israel has title deed to judeo," it didn't -- judea," it didn't mean they could --
▶ 2:00:10Gov. Huckabee: I simply referenced the biblical mandate that goes all the way back to the time of abraham, 3500 years ago. That is what I was referencing.
▶ 2:00:20Sen. Van Hollen: I understand you have that view. I'm trying to understand the consequences of that view. In your view, if israel were to annex the west bank, what rights with palestinians have? Why asked that question yesterday, you focused on the right to work, economic opportunity.
▶ 2:00:45Sen. Van Hollen: Would those palestinian individuals in and asked west bank -- an annexe west bank of the same legal and democratic rightsd as israeli jews living the west bank?
▶ 2:00:56Gov. Huckabee: Annexation does not mean displacement of people.
▶ 2:01:02Sen. Van Hollen: I'm not asking about displacement now. I'm asking if they remained there, with a have equal rights to israeli jews on the west bank?
▶ 2:01:11Gov. Huckabee: They would be security, opportunity.
▶ 2:01:14Sen. Van Hollen: That is not what I'm asking and you know that. I'm asking if they would understand. If they would have the same legal rights as an israeli jew who settled in the west bank living side-by-side? What they have the same legal and political rights?
▶ 2:01:31Gov. Huckabee: Senator, if you mean with a be able to live freely, they already do.
▶ 2:01:41Sen. Van Hollen: How about voting? You are suggesting the west bank become part of israel. Are you suggesting the palestinians living in the west bank should have the right to vote in elections in israel?
▶ 2:01:54Gov. Huckabee: Let me correct and say I'm not suggesting --
▶ 2:01:59Sen. Van Hollen: Let me move on. I want to ask about the situation in gaza. I think you would agree that it would be wrong to hold any innocent palestinian civilian accountable for the evils of hamas. Right? The simple principle. You don't believe, do you? -- believing collective punishment, do you?
▶ 2:02:27Gov. Huckabee: I do not believe in collective punishment.
▶ 2:02:31Sen. Van Hollen: There are 2 million people there. Senator merkley asked about withholding food. For 23 days there has been a ban on humanitarian assistance in the gaza. The finance minister suggested, and I'm quoting, it might be justified and moral to start 2 million palestinian as part of a strategy to free the hostages. Simple question.
▶ 2:02:59Sen. Van Hollen: Do you disagree with fine -- with the finance minister?
▶ 2:03:03Gov. Huckabee: An ambassador does not get to argue with the people of the country he goes to represent the united states in. My job is to represent the president and his policies. He has not given those to me because I have not been confirmed.
▶ 2:03:18Sen. Van Hollen: You are aware that when he was asked whether the palestinians who would leave gaza under the president plan could return, he said no. That doesn't sound like a voluntary program, does it?
▶ 2:03:32Gov. Huckabee: I heard the president say he does not push for forced displacement. I heard him say he wants a better life for the palestinian people. He wants them to have security. Isn't want their children to be put in front of the munitions of hamas.
▶ 2:03:49Sen. Van Hollen: Nobody does but that is not the question. We did have a good, important conversation yesterday about the situation of some of the churches in jerusalem and israel who are feeling a lot of financial pressure because of actions being taken by municipalities in israel and concerns they have about abill concerns they have about abi bil in the knesset.
▶ 2:04:20Chair Risch: If you come senator -- thank you, senator.
▶ 2:04:28Sen. Mcconnell: --mccormick: we went to israel soon after october 7 and saw firsthand the horrific tally that occurred there.
▶ 2:04:45Sen. Mcconnell: I think we also share with you and optimism that in the second term of president trump they will be able to pick up some of the wonderful progress of the abraham words and move forward -- accords and move forward. We have seen the decisive action against the wh -- houthis.
▶ 2:05:14Sen. Mcconnell: I wondered if you could speak for a minute about how you imagine working hand-in-hand with the administration and israel to confront that threat.
▶ 2:05:23Gov. Huckabee: Thank you. It is great to see you. With the president has made clear is the united states is not going to be played for a chump. We will not allow the houthis to bombard our naval capacity, stop shipping lanes. The president made it very clear america has every right to defend our interests and stand by our allies.
▶ 2:05:51Gov. Huckabee: It is one of the reasons I feel so extraordinarily grateful to this president for the opportunity to serve in the capacity to which he has nominated me. If confirmed, I want to be able to take the clarity of his voice and moral understanding of what should happen in the middle east in dealing with terrorism and being able to be part of something historic.
▶ 2:06:14Gov. Huckabee: To stop that which has murdered and destroyed the lives and livelihoods of soldiers and civilians.
▶ 2:06:24Sen. Mccormick: Thank you. Also, to follow up on the progress of the abraham accords, th peace treaty was the most significant in 40 years. He laid the predicate for an expansion of peace throughout the region, which was sadly disrupted by the vicious attack by hamas.
▶ 2:06:47Sen. Mccormick: How do you imagine working with other countries in the region and with israel to expand the abraham accords over the next four years of president trump presidency?
▶ 2:07:00Gov. Huckabee: Everyone in the region has everything to gain and nothing to lose by working cooperatively. If one looks at the agricultural advances that israel made in their willingness to share them with these other nations that are basically deserts, and my 52 years of traveling to israel I have literally seen the verses of the bible come to life. The dry bones have come to live again.
▶ 2:07:26Gov. Huckabee: The desert has bloomed because of israeli advancement in hydrology. Being able to use water in a way that literally turned deserts into vast array of vegetation which now exports fruits and vegetables everywhere. Look at the technology that can be shared which creates a greater level. Of security whether it is trade, tourism, no one loses. Everyone wins.
▶ 2:07:57Gov. Huckabee: No one is looking at taking somebody else's territory and moving into their sovereignty. It becomes an opportunity to bring a real sense of peace for all the people of the middle east, whether they are a jewish warrior of dissent. That would -- or arab dissent. This is something this president could uniquely bring about.
▶ 2:08:18Sen. Mccormick: Mr. cabrera, welcome. Following up on the enormous attention and focus this administration has put on panama and the canal, for too long it has been clear to all that beijing has strained -- strengthened its presence throughout let america, particularly panama, to the detriment of our economic and international security. Thanks to this administration the panamanian government is withdrawing for the belt and road initiative.
▶ 2:08:50Sen. Mccormick: We see a path for U.S. investors owning port concessions in the panama canal and a controlling interest. If confirmed, how do you expect to work and plan to work with this administration to deepen those gains of pushing china back but also strengthening our ties with panama which is such a key and important alley?
▶ 2:09:11Mr. Cabrera: Thank you for your question. This is part of economic diplomacy. While we are number one in foreign directive investment in the panama, it is important we continue to expand and work with the government on migration, stopping drugs, and making sure we expand their relationship to make sure we have a level playing field for companies to come in and compete fairly. When they compete, they win because we have a better product offer.
▶ 2:09:42Mr. Cabrera: If we continue our gains with president trump and secretary rubio. Chinese influences also in other areas. They have memorandums of understanding with all five universities in panama for confucius centers. They have a relationship with the local tv where they provide information which many times is put in -- and it never criticizes china.
▶ 2:10:10Mr. Cabrera: Much progress has been made and looking forward to working with you and the members of this committee, secretary rubio, and the president to provide american companies opportunities to invest in panama.
▶ 2:10:25Sen. Mccormick: Senator rosen.
▶ 2:10:28Sen. Rosen: I want to think the chair and making never for holding this important hearing today. And I want to thank the nominees and their families for their willingness to serve. Governor huckabee, I know from our conversation earlier, like me, you care about the bond between united states and israel.
▶ 2:10:49Sen. Rosen: I have no doubt that if confirmed people worked tirelessly to strengthen the U.S.-israel relationship, meet israel's defense needs, and free the remaining hostages held by hamas. What I have concerns about is how you will work to maintain a bipartisan U.S. support for israel and whether you will encourage steps that could one day lead to a durable, lasting peace in the region that finally provides israel with long-term security.
▶ 2:11:20Sen. Rosen: Governor huckabee, to have any chance of achieving what I laid out israel cannot turn into a partisan football on capitol hill. We had this discussion. Do you agree and when you commit to maintaining an ongoing equal communication with both republican and democratic offices if confirmed?
▶ 2:11:40Gov. Huckabee: Senator, thank you. It's an important and valid question to which I can say emphatically I affirm a commitment that if I am confirmed I would have a responsibility. It is not just that I would do it because it would be a nice thing to do. It's a responsibility of an ambassador to serve the entire country. Certainly deserve the president to appoint me. The policies of this president and the secretary.
▶ 2:12:08Gov. Huckabee: It is also a duty to communicate. It is a conversation I also had with ranking member shaheen yesterday and committed to her that there would be no difference in the manner in which I would receive a call from someone who was a democrat or republican. If I could add one thing. Real quickly. I remember when the democrats were the most reliable supporters of israel.
▶ 2:12:34Sen. Rosen: And they still are, sir. I will move to my next question. Based on your previous statements, it is fair to say you are opposed to a two state solution. While we both agree that two states living side-by-side in peace is not possible today with hamas and power, it should remain the ultimate goal and inform the U.S. approach of the israeli-palestinian conflict.
▶ 2:13:03Sen. Rosen: Especially after the war in gaza ends. It is about israel's best security interest to reach such an agreement and the only way to maintain israel as a jewish democratic state for the long-term. We are in it for the long run. Do you believe the U.S. should continue advocating for a future two state solution? If not, what is your alternative?
▶ 2:13:28Gov. Huckabee: That's a good question. Quite frankly, I think the question is not is there a need for people who are palestinian to be able to live and have a future. It is where and when. Where will that be? Will be on top of the israeli-jewish state? Will it be somewhere that is decided upon that would be completely different?
▶ 2:13:56Gov. Huckabee: Only for those who wish to locate there. Here's my point. Senator, israel is a tiny strip of land. Is the size of new jersey. Muslim countries control 644 times the amount of land that israel has. They have been surrounded by those who have sought to destroy it and annihilated. Those who chant from the river to the sea are not bringing about peace.
▶ 2:14:25Gov. Huckabee: The palestinians were given the opportunity in the year 2000 when barack said here it is you get it all. The palestinian liberation organization walked away from it. The other thing that has to happen is a cultural shift.
▶ 2:14:41Gov. Huckabee: There can be no peace and two state solution if there continues to be education from the time a child is five and six years old living under the palestinian authority that says it is ok, in fact desirable to murder jews and reward them for it.
▶ 2:14:59Sen. Rosen: I want to build on what we talked about. He spoke about the abraham accords, how important that is because of the cultural shift. P accords and other kind to diplomacy can help lead to that cultural shift. You and I both agree iran presents a major threat to israel's existence in the atrium accords is one of the best -- the abraham accords is one of the best way to counter aggression and start that cultural shift.
▶ 2:15:31Sen. Rosen: In the broader conversation -- I'm running at a time -- maybe you will let him answer, chairwoman. How do we expand the abraham accords absent support for a two state solution?
▶ 2:15:43Gov. Huckabee: Through the long process of seeing the culture change. There has to be an admission that israel has a right to exist. There has to be some recognition there will be a change in the policy of educating children to hate jews. That does not lead towards a peaceful coexistence. We are seeing the results of the anti-semitism here in our homeland which is very distressing to me.
▶ 2:16:11Gov. Huckabee: I'm sure to you too, to see people raised up with an irrational hatred towards jewish people. That cannot lead to any level of peaceful coexistence, whether it is here, there, or anywhere else on the planet.
▶ 2:16:34Sen. Scott: Here's the issue -- got rid of suing the sister organization to the w.h.o.
▶ 2:17:06Sen. Scott: Cuban nurses and doctors are being sent around the world and paid certain money to the cuban government. I think that is human trafficking. I could never get the waiver of immunity. I don't know if he had time to think about that and what you think about that and whether that is right stuff I think human trafficking is wrong and anything to help the cuban regime is not good for the united states.
▶ 2:17:47Mr. Rubinstein: Thank you for taking the time to speak with. I enjoyed our conversation. I agree with you. Human trafficking is wrong. I further understand your frustration, as I explained over the course of my career. I have done perhaps more than the normal amount of victim of terrorism representation. I feel the issues strongly.
▶ 2:18:16Mr. Rubinstein: I do not know the circumstances of what occurred and what was going on when you requested the information. I have not been read into the facts. To take a look and understand what the institutional position wasn't what was going on. I pledged to you then and I pledge now to always communicate with you or other members of the committee and provide as much information as lawfully unable to provide.
▶ 2:18:44Sen. Scott: The most frustrating thing is a black hole. Governor huckabee, why is the defense of israel and the support of israel important to america?
▶ 2:19:07Gov. Huckabee: It's been very clear as expressed by the iranian government that israel is the appetizer and we are the entree. They don't want to stop it israel will stop there's an old saying that when people are saying again and again they will kill you, you might want to take them seriously. They have gone beyond saying they want to annihilate israel and wipe them off the face of the earth.
▶ 2:19:33Gov. Huckabee: They said the ultimate goal is to first take care of the little satan, israel, and income after the great satan. That is us. Whatever is happening to israel, it is the canary in the coal mine.
▶ 2:19:48Gov. Huckabee: These governments, iran being the most notable, who want to develop a nuclear weapon and who have the audacity to wish to use it to destroy a sovereign jewish state so they ultimately could destroy western civilization, that is why it matters. I appreciate your question. I hope people will understand this is not just about israel. It is about us.
▶ 2:20:17Gov. Huckabee: If we don't stand with them, they stand alone. If they fall alone, we fall next.
▶ 2:20:26Sen. Scott: As we have seen, you have put effort into freedom and liberty in latin america. As we have seen in panama, the communist party is trying to infiltrate all the politics and the port. How important is panama to america, tartrate, our defense --to our trade, our defense, how success?
▶ 2:20:53Mr. Cabrera: Panama is an important ally. We talk about the so the border. You cannot really talk about it without panama. Through the darien gap you had over 500,000 folks crossing. Right now under the success of president trump and secretary rubio, we have lowered those numbers 95%. That is not just migration but drugs as well. Panama is a huge ally in drug seizing.
▶ 2:21:22Mr. Cabrera: They have been number one in central america. Over 100 metric tons. 40% of the cocaine interested panama. Panama, a strong ally in the darien gap, we can stop the drugs and migration and that helps us in america to make sure the drugs are not trading. The chinese influence is a problem and it's about making sure we make great strides as they have done with the concessions being sold.
▶ 2:21:55Mr. Cabrera: They are the first country to enter belt and road and exit in the americas. >> senator cruz.
▶ 2:22:13Sen. Cruz: Thank you, governor huckabee. Congratulations on your nomination. I'm happy to see your name in this position. You are stepping into a role not just incredibly important but incredibly influential. In addition to implement in president trump's policy, you will oversee what information gets sent to washington, D.C. those assessments get sent to it administration officials and members of the.
▶ 2:22:43Sen. Cruz: Indeed, this committee requires the state department submit a range of regular reports and relies on those reports to advance our oversight of the department and the american foreign policy. As you c1 during the biden administration, such reports were often withheld, and when they were sent, they were systematically politicized to promote the administration's misguided middle east policy which boosted america's enemies and punished
▶ 2:23:14Sen. Cruz: Our allies. Officials in the bud ministry and are just beginning to clear the shelves of what was left over. I am holding right now a report produced mostly during the biden administration. It covers palestinian authority incitement of violence against israelis for the period of february 2023 to may 2024, which includes the aftermath of the october 7 terrorist attacks.
▶ 2:23:44Sen. Cruz: It was deliberately withheld from congress and only sent to this committee this month. It is unclassified. But it has not been made public. It is a deeply disturbing example of the challenge you will face in the thinking inside parts of the state department.
▶ 2:24:02Sen. Cruz: This report says palestinian president "president abbas maintained a public position against incitement of violence and terrorism and reiterated his commitment to nonviolence. He condemned the killing of israeli citizens -- civilians by hamas on october 7 because it had given israel the pretext to attack as a.
▶ 2:24:30Sen. Cruz: Let's put aside the disgusting claim but israel's campaign against hamas was done on a pretext. The claim that a boss has not -- that hamas has not incited violence is staggering. In relation to october 7, he and other ation to october 7, he and other palestinian ober 7, he and other palestinian officialse and blamed israel and used rhetoric about palestinian self-defense, a month after the attack, a top hamas advisor even bragged that the palestinian authority had
▶ 2:25:00Sen. Cruz: Not uttered a single word condemning hamas. I would like to ask you, governor, talk a little bit about your own assessment regarding palestinian incitement and what that should mean to american foreign policy toward israel in the region. >> I think the question is very relevant to what is happening right now.
▶ 2:25:22Sen. Cruz: The great tragedy is that it is hard to have a peaceful solution that involves a future for the palestinians when they quench any hope of real democracy for their people. It is in the 20th year of his four-year term.
▶ 2:25:40Sen. Cruz: As we think about that, one has to ask, how many years does a person get for a four-year term without an election, without some transfer of power, without empowering the people to speak for themselves. That is part of the real challenge that is faced in the middle east.
▶ 2:26:03Sen. Cruz: With the ongoing doctrine where compensation is given to those who murder jews, parks and streets are named for those who do it, tensions are given to the families of those who are killed in the line of killing jews, senator, that is the difficult pathway to peace. I would further mention that if in fact there is going to be a peaceful direction, we have to accept something is not working.
▶ 2:26:30Sen. Cruz: In the two state solution, the notion that everyone is going to live together, toast marshmallows around the campfire, singing kumbaya, and it will happen in our lifetime, is not going to happen if one of the sides does not believe the other one has a right to exist and continues to say from the river to the sea. That's why it becomes a challenge.
▶ 2:26:52Sen. Cruz: I have every confidence that secretary rubio and especially every confidence that president trump wants to see a genuine, long-lasting peace for everyone in the middle east. And it will be a privilege to serve the president to try to work toward that.
▶ 2:27:10Sen. Cruz: Thank you. I agree with that. I would note, Mr. rubinstein, this is not the only report that the biden administration failed to turn over. I have a report that I had drafted language requiring the state department to send this committee a record on any iranian person that has attacked the united states citizen using a drone. They sat on that report, we just got that as well.
▶ 2:27:33Sen. Cruz: I will say, and your role as legal advisor, you will have challenges getting the state department to comply with the requirements congress has placed upon them. >> thank you, senator. I want to thank you for the introduction and if I could for 15 seconds, I want to think and be sure you are properly recognized for what you did for the victims of fort hood. I spent years on that case. I know more about it then anybody would ever want to.
▶ 2:28:02Sen. Cruz: It is one of the more shameful episodes in the history of our military. He led the fight to make it right and god bless you for what you did. With respect to the reports you mentioned, I'm not in there, I can't tell you what is going on, but I can promise we will take a look at it.
▶ 2:28:19Sen. Cruz: Terrific. >> I would just say I appreciate you raising those reports. I have not seen them. So I hope you will share them.
▶ 2:28:27Sen. Cruz: I will happily share them with you.
▶ 2:28:28Sen. Shaheen: Thank you. Senator lee.
▶ 2:28:30Sen. Lee: Thank you to all of you for being here and your willingness to serve. I would like to start with you, Mr. rubinstein, if that's ok. Legal advisor to the state department is a very important position and it is unique in the sense that it deals with the unique interaction between domestic law and also with the tangled web that we sometimes refer to as international law.
▶ 2:28:58Sen. Lee: It has been my view that international law and any associated agreements are made legitimate and binding if they have been enacted into law in some way or another. Either through ratification of a treaty with two thirds of the senate, or through some other form of legislation, which requires passage by the president.
▶ 2:29:26Sen. Lee: In the absence of this and the absence of domestic implementing legislation, either in the form of treaty ratification or the enactment of statute, do you share the view that international agreements are not otherwise binding on the united states?
▶ 2:29:41Mr. Rubinstein: Think you, senator. That is a very interesting question. You are absolutely right. The legal advisors position is one of the great lawyer jobs and the federal government if not the world, because it raises the issues you are touching upon. I can't tell you as I sit here today what the institutional view is with respect to your question.
▶ 2:30:12Mr. Rubinstein: And I would certainly before I committed to anything, want to understand where that institution's view is.
▶ 2:30:22Sen. Lee: As you read the constitution.
▶ 2:30:23Mr. Rubinstein: As I read the constitution -- for example, under the constitution, the treaty of power that the authorities case that senator cruz played a role, there is a very complex and deep discussion of the difference between self-executing and non-self-executing treaties which have different effect on historically going back to the time of the founding.
▶ 2:30:52Mr. Rubinstein: There was an understanding and discussion about what those means and how they fit under the constitution. My friend, steve engel, did a tremendous analysis of the executives authority to unilaterally withdraw from treaties, a question that I -- that I know has been interested to them minority. He issued an opinion with respect to the open skies agreement. Does his usual good work in analyzing the issues and exploring the history and so forth.
▶ 2:31:21Mr. Rubinstein: All of this to say, I have my own views. Which are in some cases, well-informed and in some cases, not so much. And I think there is an ongoing conversation about this, congress has its view of its authority to terminate treaties and Mr. engel had hints, and I would have to look at the specific enactment --
▶ 2:31:50Sen. Lee: Let's get more specific. If I'm right, and I think I am because I think it is what the constitution says, then that would suggest that the united states is bound to the united nations only insofar as domestic law says so. Domestic law meaning ratified treaty or otherwise enacted legislation. If that's the case, our domestic law has delineated how we interact with you and agencies. U.n. Entities.
▶ 2:32:20Sen. Lee: That grant entrance to the palestinian state. We do not fund them. In the past, people in the position to which you have been nominated, legal advisors to the state department have circumvented this prohibition. This prohibition that is mandated by our domestic law. By calling the united nations framework convention on climate change a treaty, rather than a u.n. Affiliated body for example.
▶ 2:32:47Sen. Lee: If to mystic law supersedes international law, is this a distinction with any relevance?
▶ 2:32:57Mr. Rubinstein: I think under the constitution, domestic law transcends international law. The united states historically acknowledges and recognizes international customary international law. The department of defense and the department of state during the trump administration did lengthy analyses for the law for the variety of issues that come up in that frame.
▶ 2:33:25Mr. Rubinstein: How any set of circumstances -- and I can talk about the palestinian funding.
▶ 2:33:30Sen. Lee: My time is about to elapse. If I may, just ask one quick follow-up on this. I want to make sure I understand the point you made a minute ago about the united states recognizing customary international law. This is an important statement to understand. Because insofar as we are willing to say, we recognize customary international law, whatever that might say, we are it.
▶ 2:34:01Sen. Lee: Apart from the fundamental constitutional problem of whether customary international law has evolved in a way that domestic law has never countenanced, I would be worried about that for the additional reason if there is no single universal arbiter of what customary international law is.
▶ 2:34:15Mr. Rubinstein: That's correct. I agree with you 100%. I do know there is a long institutional history, the lawyers there are careful and thoughtful. I would want to be able to examine it and discuss it with my colleagues, and on important issues, to take the olc's temperature.
▶ 2:34:37Mr. Rubinstein: They provide a wonderful pressure test for analysis and ideas and are very good at saying, you didn't think about this issue, or maybe if you thought about it from this frame. I will say this. The president has made it clear that the department, and quite rightly so in my view, the president has made it crystal clear that we are to pursue any america first -- pursue an america first policy.
▶ 2:35:06Mr. Rubinstein: He has issued executive orders dealing with international -- U.S. relationship with international organizations. He has, as I believe Mr. landau was proved for you and he testified that international agreements, international organizations, can advance U.S. interests and often do.
▶ 2:35:36Mr. Rubinstein: The test, they are not ends in and of themselves they are tools to enact. Which is making america to use the secretary's phrase, making america safer, stronger and more prosperous. The legal issues you raise, I look forward to a conversation. I had the great privilege to read a brief written in the 1970's relative to impoundment, written by your father.
▶ 2:36:06Sen. Lee: Wasn't any good? -- was it any good?
▶ 2:36:13Mr. Rubinstein: You are voting on my potential nomination, so I'm going to say it was excellent. But was excellent. It was outstanding.
▶ 2:36:21Sen. Lee: That was the right answer.
▶ 2:36:23Mr. Rubinstein: Thank you. It was outstanding. I look forward, I hope you the are able to have these conversations. I find them educational, exciting, and it helps us get to the right outcome for the american people which is the most important.
▶ 2:36:38Sen. Lee: Wonderful. I will read that brief.
▶ 2:36:39Mr. Rubinstein: It is terrific. I highly recommend.
▶ 2:36:42Sen. Lee: Thank you.
▶ 2:36:47Sen. Shaheen: I'm glad you are as oblique with senator lee as you were with me. I see it is bipartisan. I have another couple of questions before we close. The first is for you, governor huckabee. We discussed this a little that yesterday when we met, but as you know, what happens in israel does not just affect israel, it also affects the region.
▶ 2:37:12Sen. Shaheen: In neighboring syria, as we discussed, I think there is an historic opportunity to build a stable, hopefully democratic but certainly prosperous future that is very different from the assad regime for the last 50 plus years. But I'm very concerned there are reports that there are ongoing communications between russia and syria, also between iran and syria, particularly russia.
▶ 2:37:40Sen. Shaheen: That if we don't seize this moment, russia may again embed itself with the new authorities in a way that is not going to be in the long-term best interest either of syria or the united states or the region, I would assert. Can you talk a little bit about how you think we can work with israel to achieve a syria that is no longer subject to russian influence?
▶ 2:38:04Gov. Huckabee: An excellent question, and quite timely. As I said to you yesterday, there are people who want a stable syria more than anyone in the world. The israelis. Particularly the mothers and the followers of those 18-year-old men and women who have just been drafted into the military and who, god forbid, will have to go to yet another theater of war on their border.
▶ 2:38:33Gov. Huckabee: It is in the world's best interest to see their stability there. But it is in israel's immediate interest to see that happen. I'm confident that the president will do everything in his power to see that to fruition.
▶ 2:38:52Sen. Shaheen: And can I assume from that, that you would encourage that direction, and encourage the president to think about the opportunities that we have right now in syria?
▶ 2:39:08Gov. Huckabee: It's my view the president would encourage me to think in that direction. Generally, it is hard to get in front of him. It is usually necessary to get behind what he has already thought. And I'm convinced and confident, again, I don't have the conversation until I'm confirmed, I won't be able to have that kind of conversation. But it would not surprise me at all if that is already on his agenda to make happen.
▶ 2:39:33Sen. Shaheen: I would certainly agree with you with respect to actions on israel. However, the president does seem to be falling prey to the manipulation of vladimir putin and reciting the russian talking points. And if russia is interested in getting back into syria, I would hope that we would not pay attention to what russia wants and would pay attention to what the united states wants. Mr.
▶ 2:40:00Sen. Shaheen: Cabrera, I appreciate your calling up the importance of panama withdrawing from the belden road initiative. I agree that has been a huge accomplishment in the first few months of this administration. But I'm also concerned about the comments, the inflammatory rhetoric, as I said in my opening statement, that the president has used in talking about reclaiming the panama canal.
▶ 2:40:29Sen. Shaheen: Can ice -- can I ask if confirmed as ambassador to panama, do you commit to respecting the sovereignty of panama and advising the president to do the same?
▶ 2:40:39Mr. Cabrera: Thank you, senator. I appreciate the question. It is an honor to be nominated to be the ambassador to panama. If confirmed, with your consent, would serve at the president's pleasure. He has said, his job is to make sure the security and safety of our country and national security interest, and he said all the options are on the table regarding the chinese influence of panama. Part of all of the options includes diplomacy, which is where we have seen gains in these first 60 days.
▶ 2:41:10Mr. Cabrera: If confirmed, I look forward to working with president trump, secretary rubio, and the government to make these gains to diminish the chinese influence. I've been working with your office as well and the members of this committee. . And continuing forward Sen.
▶ 2:41:26Shaheen: I appreciate that and the importance of focusing on diplomacy. That's why it is hard for me to understand exactly what the president means when he talks about reclaiming the panama canal, and how those actions would be consistent with our treaty obligations. Can you shed any light on that? What is he talking about when he says -- are we talking about sending boots on the ground, the military into panama to take back the canal? Are we talking about buying it back again?
▶ 2:41:55Shaheen: Are we talking about coercing the panamanians to give it back to us? What do you think, what -- what have your conversations been about with respect to the panama can?
▶ 2:42:04Mr. Cabrera: I appreciate the question. My comments -- my conversations have been limited. President trump has articulated clearly and secretary rubio in his first trip, it is my understanding based on the readouts on the state department website that he said there is a preliminary interpretation that they might be in violation of the neutrality of the treaty of the canal. President trump is our commander-in-chief.
▶ 2:42:32Mr. Cabrera: He has said all options are on the table. If confirmed, I would serve at his pleasure. Part of those options is diplomacy. Ultimately, president trump is our commander-in-chief and I stand behind him and his policies.
▶ 2:42:44Sen. Shaheen: I understand that as his nominee, you would do that. Let me just register my opposition to sending the military in to take back the canal by force. And also my opposition to buying it back into coercing the panamanians in ways that would force them to give it back. I appreciate your focus on diplomacy. Before I end my remarks, let me ask unanimous consent that materials relating to Mr.
▶ 2:43:14Sen. Shaheen: Rubenstein's Mr. huckabee's nomination be submitted for the record. And I will also note for the information of members that the record will remain open until close of business tomorrow, marched a six, for members to submit questions for the record. I would hope any questions you all receive you would try to get back to us as soon as possible. With that, thanks to the committee, this hearing is adjourned.