The elected president of the United States, Donald Trump, has nominated Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, as the new ambassador to Israel, reported the transition team. In a statement, Trump expressed that Huckabee will work tirelessly to achieve peace in the Middle East, highlighting his love for Israel and his appreciation for the people of Israel.
Mike Huckabee, known for being a strong advocate of the State of Israel, the settlements in the West Bank, and the war in Gaza, has established close ties with Israel over the decades due to his connection with evangelicals. In 2017, he participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for a new settlement in the West Bank.
During his first term, Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, ordered the construction of a new embassy in the city, and supported Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He also promoted normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab countries.
Despite his history with Israel, during the recent campaign, Trump committed to seeking peace in the Middle East, especially in response to concerns from Arab communities in the United States regarding the Biden administration's support for the war in Gaza and the invasion of southern Lebanon.
Mike Huckabee, who served as governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007, ran in the Republican presidential primary in 2016, which Trump ultimately won. However, Huckabee withdrew early from the race due to his low results. In 2022, his daughter, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, after serving as White House press secretary from 2017 to 2019, won the gubernatorial election in Arkansas, following in her father's political footsteps.
