President-elect Donald Trump nominated former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as the following US ambassador to Israel on Tuesday — insisting that the conservative pundit and Baptist minister “will work tirelessly to result in Peace within the Center East!”
“I’m happy to announce that the Extremely Revered former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, has been nominated to be The USA Ambassador to Israel,” Trump, 78, stated in a press release.
“Mike has been an amazing public servant, Governor, and Chief in Religion for a few years. He loves Israel, and the folks of Israel, and likewise, the folks of Israel love him.”
A two-time Republican presidential candidate, Huckabee, 69, stated he was “nonetheless in shock” and “processing” his choice after being prolonged the provide from Trump himself on a Tuesday morning cellphone name, a supply aware of the dialogue divulged to The Put up.
Huckabee denied reviews early within the first Trump administration that he was thought-about for a similar place, which was crammed by then-campaign adviser and legal professional David Friedman.
“I’m thrilled by President Trump’s nomination of Governor Mike Huckabee as the following Ambassador to Israel,” stated Friedman, who served within the position from 2017 to 2021.
“He’s a pricey buddy and he could have my full help. Congrats Mike on getting one of the best job on the planet!”
Israel’s Minister of Nationwide Safety Itamar Ben-Gvir was the primary international official to reward the choice, posting on X: “Mike Huckabee 🇺🇸❤️🇮🇱.”
Huckabee, who served as governor of Arkansas from 1997 to 2006, will succeed Ambassador Jacob Lew, who served below President Biden.
Israel simply entered its thirteenth month of struggle towards Hamas terrorists in Gaza in response to the Oct. 7, 2023, bloodbath of 1,200 folks, together with 46 Individuals. It was the deadliest day for the Jewish folks because the Holocaust.
That battle has broadened right into a wider regional battle between Israel and Iranian terror proxies, together with Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis.
Iran and Israel have additionally traded direct missile assaults towards one another, with the Jewish state inflicting harm and making Tehran’s nuclear websites, that are reportedly simply weeks away from being operational, extra susceptible.
Trump pilloried Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he each confronted at separate factors through the 2024 race, for permitting the battle to occur.
“The struggle attributable to the assault on Israel … would by no means have occurred if I used to be president,” the previous president stated throughout his acceptance speech on the Republican Nationwide Conference in Milwaukee. “Iran was broke. Iran had no cash. Now Iran has $250 billion. They made it everywhere in the final two and a half years.”
Jewish voters within the US backed a Republican presidential nominee by the best margins since George H.W. Bush, in response to knowledge from a 2024 Fox Information voter evaluation and the Jewish Digital Library.
A couple of third (32%) of Jewish voters forged a poll for Trump on Nov. 5.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who’s presently Arkansas’ governor, may hardly include her pleasure, posting on X that she was “unbelievably proud” of her dad.
“I went to Israel for the primary time with my dad once I was eleven and it modified my life,” stated Sanders, who additionally served previously as a Trump White Home press secretary.
“There isn’t any one President Trump may have picked with a better love for the Israeli folks and dedication to the unbreakable bond between America and Israel than him. Love you dad!” she added.
The evangelical chief is extensively seen as each a Trump loyalist and staunch pro-Israel advocate, who will assume authority at a essential time.
“There isn’t any higher individual to symbolize the American folks in Jerusalem right now,” stated Sandra Hagee Parker, chairwoman of the Christians United for Israel Motion Fund, an evangelical group.
“Gov. Mike Huckabee believes in Israel’s proper to self-determination and protection, not as a result of it’s politically handy to take action however as a result of these are immutable tenets of his core beliefs,” Parker stated.
“Whether or not serving his congregation as a Pastor or his constituents as Governor, Huckabee has each the center and thoughts for this Ambassadorship, and we all know he’ll work tirelessly to make sure the connection between America and Israel stays stronger than ever.”
The Republican Jewish Coalition additionally celebrated the decide, calling Huckabee “a person of deep religion” with an “abounding love of Israel and its folks … second to none.”
“Because the Jewish state continues to battle an existential struggle for survival towards Iran and its terrorist proxies, Governor Huckabee will symbolize America’s ironclad dedication to Israel’s safety with distinction,” the group stated in a press release.
“An extended-time buddy of the RJC, we all know Governor Huckabee will strengthen the US-Israel relationship to even better heights.”
Reps for Huckabee didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
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