Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee attends a ceremony marking the construction of a new housing complex in the Israeli settlement of Efrat in the occupied West Bank August 1, 2018. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo
President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as the next U.S. ambassador to Israel. Huckabee, a vocal supporter of Israel and advocate for Israeli settlements in the West Bank, brings a longstanding commitment to Israel and a track record of pro-Israel positions.
Huckabee’s Background and Stance on Israel
As a committed evangelical Christian, Huckabee has been a staunch ally of Israel, consistently defending Israeli policies and promoting strong U.S.-Israel relations. His support for Israel includes a favorable view of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which most of the international community considers illegal. Trump emphasized Huckabee’s dedication to Israel, stating that he will work “tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East.”
Huckabee has criticized the Biden administration for its approach to Israel, particularly regarding pressure on Israel to moderate its actions in the Gaza conflict. He argued in an interview that the Biden administration’s policy includes concessions to Hamas, questioning how someone could be both “pro-Israel” and “pro-Biden.”
Political and Family Background
Mike Huckabee served as governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007 and twice ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016. His daughter, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a prominent figure in Trump’s first administration, currently serves as the governor of Arkansas and was formerly Trump’s White House press secretary from 2017 to 2019.
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