But Mr. Malley, the son of a Jewish Arab leftist, is a well-known proponent of talks with groups and governments – including through the years Hamas, Hezbollah and President Bashar al-Assad of Syria – widely regarded as enemies of the United States. States and Israel and by some morally out of bounds for contact. To his critics, he is too suspicious of American power and too sympathetic to foreign actors, including Iran and the Palestinians who have deep disputes with the West.
As a critic of Mr. Biden for Iran, which is responsible for expanding its nuclear program, fears the critics, Mr. Malley is campaigning for a new agreement with Tehran that will concede too much to its spiritual rulers in the name of reconciliation. When his first appointment appeared in the news media, Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas, condemns “radicals like Malley” which according to him has a long record of sympathy with the Iranian regime ‘and’ animus towards Israel ‘.
Other opponents of negotiations with Iran have expressed concern in more moderate terms. “The appointment of Rob Malley may be a clear indication that the Biden government is giving priority to returning to the JCPOA over a policy of harnessing US power to reach a more cohesive and permanent agreement,” he said. has Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, referring to the 2015 Nuclear Power Agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which he has long opposed. “Malley does not believe in American power,” he added.
Defenders of Mr. Malley, whose position does not require Senate confirmation, says he has become a convenient target for an opening salvo of US and Israeli law to warn Biden’s government to try too hard to join forces with Tehran. to work on another nuclear agreement. such as the 2015 agreement that became one of the bitterest foreign policy battles of the Obama years.
“Most of Rob’s judgment comes from people who do not know him and who prefer to believe that he has no idea of American national interests, and that it’s all about trying to find a way to deal with our enemies. reconciling, “said Aaron David Miller, a Middle East peace negotiator among several presidents who, along with Mr. Malley worked.