Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has been nominated to serve as U.S. ambassador to Israel, a key diplomatic post that underscores his longstanding support for the country. Huckabee’s nomination is expected to proceed smoothly with strong backing from fellow Republicans.
Huckabee, a vocal advocate for Israel throughout his political career, has aligned his support with his evangelical Christian beliefs. He’s consistently backed Israeli policies, including the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
More recently, Huckabee opposed efforts to secure a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, stating that the U.S. had “no valid reason” to support such negotiations.
The former governor has also made controversial statements regarding Palestinians. Huckabee previously dismissed the existence of a Palestinian identity, asserting “there’s really no such thing as a Palestinian.”
He reiterated similar views in 2015, claiming that Palestinians didn’t have a long history dating back centuries.
Huckabee’s confirmation as ambassador is expected to face little resistance, especially from Republicans.
The 68-year-old is well known in conservative circles. He has served as governor of Arkansas, hosted a popular Fox News show and is the father of rising GOP star, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Huckabee’s nomination comes as part of a broader series of diplomatic appointments by President-elect Donald Trump.
In recent days, Trump has named Florida Republican Rep. Mike Waltz as national security adviser and New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik as his nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Trump is also expected to nominate Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state, a lineup that shares Huckabee’s pro-Israel stance and signals a continued strong U.S. commitment to Israel in future foreign policy.
