President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has been nominated as the U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
Huckabee’s nomination comes amid ongoing conflict in Israel following a large-scale attack by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, which left over 1,200 people dead and hundreds taken hostage.
Huckabee, a prominent advocate of U.S.-Israel relations, has frequently voiced support for Israel, making him a familiar figure among pro-Israel supporters.
Trump expressed strong support for Huckabee in his statement: “I am pleased to announce that the highly respected former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, has been nominated to be the United States Ambassador to Israel.
Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and leader in faith for many years. He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East!”
Huckabee has a longstanding relationship with Israel.
He was named second on the Jerusalem Post’s list of “Top 10 Christian Zionists,” an honor reflecting his influence and dedication to Israeli advocacy.
Known for his extensive travel to Israel, Huckabee has visited the country nearly 100 times, often bringing groups of visitors to highlight Israel’s history, culture, and geopolitical situation.
His role as ambassador is expected to reinforce the alliance between the U.S. and Israel, especially given the current tensions in the region.
David Friedman, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Israel during Trump’s first term, praised the nomination.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Friedman stated, “I am thrilled by President Trump’s nomination of Governor Mike Huckabee as the next Ambassador to Israel.
I am thrilled by President Trump’s nomination of Governor Mike Huckabee as the next Ambassador to Israel. He is a dear friend and he will have my full support. Congrats Mike on getting the best job in the world!
— David M Friedman (@DavidM_Friedman) November 12, 2024
He is a dear friend, and he will have my full support. Congrats, Mike, on getting the best job in the world!”
Huckabee recently joined an international delegation to Israel to observe the aftermath of the October 7 attack.
He spoke about the scenes he witnessed in Kfar Aza, a community severely impacted by the violence, describing it as “worse than I could have imagined, the unimaginable horror that these people have been through.”
He urged for global awareness of the atrocities, saying, “No human being should ever be subjected to the level of atrocity and savagery that the people of Israel have experienced. I want the whole world to understand what happened here and who did it.”
As ambassador, Huckabee is anticipated to advocate for strong support of Israel’s security and stability, aligning with his history of vocal support for the nation and its people.
His nomination signals Trump’s continued commitment to close U.S.-Israel relations as the region faces heightened challenges.
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