Trump taps Mike Huckabee to be his Israel ambassador

Former President Donald Trump tapped former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a supporter of Israeli annexation of the West Financial institution and a longtime chief within the evangelical Christian wing of the Republican Occasion, to be his ambassador to Israel because the U.S. ally wages a number of conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and Syria.

Huckabee is the newest choice by Trump for his subsequent administration who’s a fervent supporter of Israel’s struggle efforts, with New York Rep. Elise Stefanik having been nominated for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, a hawkish backer of Israel and critic of Iran, as his nationwide safety adviser. Ambassadorships are largely Senate confirmable positions, which means Huckabee must be authorised by a Republican-controlled chamber.

Huckabee, who was a prime contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, is the daddy of present Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trump’s former White Home press secretary.

“I’m happy to announce that the Extremely Revered former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, has been nominated to be The USA Ambassador to Israel. Mike has been an excellent public servant, Governor, and Chief in Religion for a few years,” Trump mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday. “He loves Israel, and the individuals of Israel, and likewise, the individuals of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to result in Peace within the Center East!”

The 69-year-old Baptist minister and former Fox Information host has remained in right-wing media since leaving workplace in 2007 and ran once more briefly for president in 2016. Huckabee mentioned after Trump was first elected in 2016 that he mentioned a Cupboard function with the incoming president, however that it was not “the best match.” He was additionally reportedly thought-about for the Israeli ambassadorship on the time.

U.S. assist for Israel is central to many evangelical Christian’s international coverage beliefs and Huckabee has long-standing ties with the nation.

“Evangelicals and so many individuals assist Israel a lot extra. It is not only a Jewish individuals, it is so many Christians are so supportive of Israel,” Trump noticed at a “Believers and Ballots” city corridor in Georgia final month. 

Huckabee has led paid tour group visits to Israel for years, steadily promoting the journeys on conservative-leaning information shops. He wrote in 2017 he began organizing journeys to Israel in 1981. 

“Let me assist you to expertise Israel in a complete way—embracing the Biblical historical past and classes, but in addition understanding Israel as the middle of the geo-political universe of the Center East and plenty of elements of the world,” Huckabee wrote in a 2017 Fb submit. 

Throughout a 2017 journey to an Israeli settlement within the West Financial institution, that are unlawful in accordance with worldwide legislation, Huckabee mentioned “there is no such thing as a such factor as a West Financial institution” and “no such factor as an occupation.” In 2018, he mentioned he “sooner or later may wish to buy a vacation house” in one other settlement. He has expressed assist for Israel’s annexation of the West Financial institution

In 2019, Trump named Huckabee to the board of the Kennedy Middle in Washington for a time period set to run out in September 2024. After supporting and spreading Trump’s false claims in regards to the 2020 election, Huckabee campaigned for him this yr. 

Israel will garner a lot focus through the early months of Trump’s upcoming administration, because it has for the final yr because the Hamas assault on Oct. 7, 2023, that triggered a bigger battle. Israel’s bombardment and floor invasion of Gaza have killed greater than 43,000 Palestinians, greater than half of them ladies and kids, in accordance with native well being authorities, who don’t say what number of of these killed have been militants. The United Nations’ Human Rights Workplace mentioned final week that round 70% individuals killed between Nov. 2023 and April 2024 have been ladies and kids.

“There’s no legitimate purpose to have a cease-fire with Hamas. They’re not able to having an honorable negotiation,” Huckabee mentioned in June. “And each time one thing is placed on the desk, they fake that they’re gonna hearken to it, they fake that they’re for it after which they at all times reject it.”

“That is like making an attempt to barter with the Nazis in World Battle II. You simply don’t,” he continued. “You beat them. You defeat them. You eradicate them.”

Round 90% of Gaza’s inhabitants of two.3 million has been displaced, and lots of of hundreds are packed into squalid tent camps, with little meals, water or hygiene services. The USA has rushed billions of {dollars} in navy assist to Israel through the struggle, whereas urgent it to permit extra assist into Gaza. Israeli President Isaac Herzog was on the White Home to fulfill with President Joe Biden on Tuesday as combating between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah has elevated and humanitarian assist organizations have mentioned that Israel’s failure to get assist into Gaza has “dramatically worsened the state of affairs on the bottom, notably in Northern Gaza.” 

On Tuesday, Palestinian medical officers mentioned Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed not less than 31 individuals up to now 24 hours and paramedics in Lebanon mentioned an Israeli airstrike on an condo constructing killed not less than six individuals whereas 4, together with a girl who is nearly 90, remained buried underneath the rubble. Hezbollah started firing into Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. For the reason that battle erupted, greater than 3,200 individuals have been killed in Lebanon and greater than 14,000 wounded, the nation’s Well being Ministry reported.

Trump has promised to finish the wars within the Center East with out saying how. He was a staunch defender of Israel throughout his earlier time period, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says they’ve spoken thrice since his reelection final week.

The Republican Jewish Coalition praised Trump’s choose, noting Huckabee’s “abounding love of Israel and its individuals is second to none.”

“Because the Jewish state continues to battle an existential struggle for survival towards Iran and its terrorist proxies, Governor Huckabee will symbolize America’s ironclad dedication to Israel’s safety with distinction,” the coalition mentioned in an announcement. 

Trump’s ambassador to Israel throughout his first time period, David Friedman, wrote on social media that Huckabee “is certainly one of Israel’s biggest mates.”

The Related Press contributed to this report.