Who is Mike Huckabee, the US evangelical, pro-settlement envoy to Israel?
The President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, has revealed that he will appoint former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who is known for his support of settlements, as the ambassador to Israel.
The contentious political figure and television personality, known for asserting that he has traveled to Israel over 100 times, will take over from Jack Lew, who has held the role for the past year.
Who Is Mike Huckabee And His Past Roles?
The committed 69-year-old evangelical Christian hails from Arkansas, a state in the southern part of the United States.
He was the governor of his home state from 1996 to 2007, and then he attempted to secure the Republican presidential nomination in both the 2008 and 2016 elections, but he was not successful.
In the interval between these two offerings, he hosted his own talk show called Huckabee, which aired on the Fox News Channel from 2008 to 2015.
In 2017, the program made a comeback and aired on TBN, a television network focused on Christian content.
Since he halted his presidential campaign in 2016, Huckabee has been a steady supporter of Trump.
Huckabee's View On Israel And Palestine
Huckabee is a strong advocate for Israel.
Following his appointment, Trump shared a statement expressing that Huckabee has a deep affection for Israel and its people, and in return, the people of Israel hold him in high regard. He stated that Mike is dedicated to working hard towards achieving peace in the Middle East!
His appointment reflects a “strongly hawkish, very pro-right-wing Israel” stance taken by the Trump administration, Yossi Mekelberg, an Israel expert at the Chatham House think tank, shared with Al Jazeera.
He mentioned that Huckabee's position is comparable to that of David Friedman, who was the US Ambassador to Israel from 2017 to 2021 and was a proponent of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Huckabee considers Israel to be a "strong supporter of the United States," according to Paul Musgrave, an associate professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar, who spoke with Al Jazeera.
"He is definitely going to be a prominent advocate for a pro-Israel group both within the administration and throughout the nation," he stated.
Huckabee has connected his religious beliefs to backing Israel's authority over the West Bank and endorsing Israeli settlements, despite their illegality according to international law.
In a 2017 interview with CNN, he stated: “The term ‘West Bank’ doesn’t exist. It’s known as Judea and Samaria, which are its biblical names. What are referred to as settlements are actually communities, neighborhoods, and cities. There is no occupation taking place here.”
Huckabee has even dared to challenge the concept of Palestinian identity.
While campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination, he noted, "I have to tread lightly with this statement, as it might provoke a strong reaction – but the truth is, Palestinians don’t actually exist."
Huckabee opposes the idea of a two-state solution.
Instead, during several television interviews, he has promoted the notion that there is ample land available for Palestinians in nations like Jordan, Egypt, and Syria.
He has also taken aim at President Joe Biden for asking Israel to be more measured in its approach to the conflict in Gaza, as well as for the administration's demands for a ceasefire.
In a March interview with News Nation, Huckabee questioned how someone could support both Israel and Biden, given that the Biden administration has openly stated its willingness to compromise with Hamas.
In a recent podcast interview, he described himself as a "proud and unrepentant Zionist."
He also mentioned, "extreme Muslims are trying to drag us back to the seventh century," and added, "I have no desire to return to that time." He continued, "I'm a fan of modern life."
Reactions In Israel To His Appointment
Mekelberg stated that the current Israeli government will likely welcome the appointment of an ambassador who endorses settlements and the annexation of land.
Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, known for his far-right and pro-settlement views, expressed his excitement about Huckabee's appointment on X. He shared a post featuring emojis of the US flag, the Israeli flag, and a heart alongside the name of the former governor of Arkansas.
Itamar Ben Gvir (@itamarbengvir) shared a post on November 12, 2024.
Danny Danon, Israel's UN ambassador, expressed his congratulations to Huckabee on X, referring to him as “my good friend.”
"I am eager to keep collaborating with you and to further enhance the lasting connection between our two nations!" Danon expressed.
Mekelberg mentioned that although it might create worries regarding a possible peace deal, the overall attitude of the Israeli public will likely be positive. He noted that in the present atmosphere, "anyone showing complete backing for Israel will be embraced."
What Can We Expect From His Tenure?
Musgrave mentioned that it's still too soon to determine the impact of his appointment on Israel's approach to Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
He mentioned that this probably suggests there won't be much resistance from a Trump administration regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's military strategies.
Mekelberg reflects a similar perspective, noting that concerns within the Israeli government about the potential limitations an incoming ambassador might impose on Israel's actions will have "significantly decreased" following Huckabee's selection.
