Trump names pro-'Israel' hawk Mike Huckabee as ambassador
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In 2017, Huckabee was present in Maale Adumim for the expansion of one of "Israel's" largest illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
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Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee speaks to the media in the West Bank settlement of Efrat, August 1, 2018. (AP)
US President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday the nomination of Mike Huckabee as US ambassador to "Israel" under his incoming administration.
Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas and prominent conservative figure is known for his staunch support of "Israel" and his close alignment with the policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu's regime.
"Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years," Trump said in a statement. "He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him."
"Israel's" Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the news, expressing optimism about Huckabee's role in strengthening US-"Israel" relations.
"I look forward to working with you to enhance the bond between our peoples," Saar posted on X, addressing Huckabee directly. "As a longstanding friend of Israel and our eternal capital, Jerusalem, I hope you will feel very much at home."
Denial of Palestinian rights
Huckabee's nomination has stirred interest due to his past remarks on the Israeli occupation of Palestine, including his controversial claim that "there is no such thing as an occupation" in Palestinian territories.
In 2017, he was present in Maale Adumim for the expansion of one of "Israel's" largest illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
"There's no such thing as the West Bank – it's Judea and Samaria," he told CNN at the time, using terms often favored by Israeli settlers.
"There's no such thing as a settlement; they're communities, they're neighborhoods, they're cities."
Read more: US-Israeli settlers anticipate stronger support in Trump's second term
Experts say that this nomination signals Trump's commitment to "Israel" as a key ally in the Middle East.
Huckabee, 69, has a long history of engagement with "Israel," having led numerous tours and visiting the occupation regularly since 1973.
In a December 2023 visit to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a site impacted by Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Huckabee expressed solidarity with "Israel", stating, "I wanted to be here to say I stand with Israel. I stand with the Jewish people."
