Huckabee: Evangelical Envoy to Israeli Settlers

“There’s really no such thing as a Palestinian,” Huckabee said in 2008.

Donald Trump plans to nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as the next U.S. ambassador to Israel, the president-elect announced Tuesday.

The intended nomination of Huckabee, a Baptist minister and outspoken defender of Israel, appears to be consistent with campaign promises Trump made to evangelical Christians to align U.S. Middle East policy more closely with Israel’s priorities as it wages a multi-front war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip,  Hezbollah in Lebanon and other Iranian-backed proxies in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.  

“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. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East.”

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, warmly welcomed the announcement of Huckabee’s planned nomination. 

“I think he will be a great ambassador to Israel,” Danon said. “He’s very familiar with the facts on the ground.”