The president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, has announced his intention to nominate former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as the next U.S. ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch pro-Israel conservative, and his selection could indicate future U.S. policy direction concerning conflicts in the Middle East.
An evangelical Christian, Huckabee has consistently advocated for Israel throughout his political journey and has been a longtime supporter of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Once a hopeful contender for the Republican presidential nomination, Mr. Huckabee hosted a weekly Fox News television program for six years, concluding in 2015.
“There’s no such thing as an occupation,” Huckabee stated in a 2017 interview with CNN, where he referred to the West Bank using its biblical titles, Judea and Samaria.
Trump’s nomination announcement received immediate commendation from high-ranking Israeli officials but is expected to face criticism from Palestinians, whose nationalist efforts Huckabee has disparaged in the past.
“He loves Israel, and the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East!” Trump commented in a statement.
At the age of 69, Huckabee would assume one of the most sensitive diplomatic roles in the United States amid ongoing conflicts, as Israel battles the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza and the armed faction Hezbollah in Lebanon, while also confronting its regional adversary Iran.
He has criticized President Joe Biden for urging Israel to moderate its actions in the Gaza conflict and has opposed the current Democratic administration’s suggestions for a ceasefire there.
“If a person is pro-Israel, how can you be pro-Biden, given that the Biden administration has made it clear they will make concessions to Hamas?” Huckabee stated in a March interview with News Nation.
Support for Huckabee’s nomination from Israeli officials
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies welcomed Trump’s election, recognizing him as a steadfast, albeit sometimes unpredictable, ally. During his first term, the Republican president-elect achieved significant victories for Netanyahu.
Members of Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, including pro-settler parties opposing Palestinian statehood, also praised Huckabee’s nomination.
“I look forward to collaborating with you to enhance the bond between our nations,” wrote Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on X.
“As a long-time supporter of Israel and our eternal capital, Jerusalem, I hope you will feel very much at home.”
Trump has firmly endorsed Netanyahu’s objective to dismantle Hamas but has urged Israel to act swiftly in this undertaking. He has vowed to achieve peace in the Middle East but has not outlined a specific strategy.
If his previous term serves as an indication, Trump is expected to adopt an even more aggressively pro-Israel stance, surpassing the solid backing provided by Biden to Washington’s primary regional ally.
Huckabee, who has led evangelical tours to Israel for many years, has advocated for Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, which Palestinians consider integral to a future independent state encompassing Gaza.
Most of the international community regards the settlements on the West Bank, occupied by Israel during the 1967 Middle East conflict, as illegal.
Huckabee served as governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007 and fell short in his attempts to secure the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016.
His daughter, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, is the current governor of Arkansas and previously served as Trump’s White House press secretary from 2017 to 2019.
