Senate: ‘Mike Huckabee US Ambassador to Israel’
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Mike Huckabee, an ordained Southern Baptist pastor noted for his Evangelical and pro-Israel views, prepares to take up his job as the United States ambassador to Israel.
The Senate agreed Wednesday with Huckabee’s nomination in a 53-46 vote, installing a staunch supporter of Israel in the key Mideast post.
Analysts say the 69-year-old ex-governor of Arkansas may prove crucial
to U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to seek an end to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the armed conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and threats posed to Israel by Iran.
Huckabee, also known as a political commentator and former presidential hopeful, became an ambassador after a vote that went almost entirely along party lines.
Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania — an ardent supporter of Israel and virtually the only Democratic ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — was the only lawmaker to break with his party to join Republicans in backing Huckabee’s nomination.
Most Democrats questioned his views on Israel, including referring to the West Bank by its Biblical name of “Judea and Samaria,” a term the U.S. has so far refused to accept.
Huckabee also opposes the idea of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinian people. He reportedly said he does not even believe in referring to Arab descendants of people in then British-controlled Palestine as “Palestinians.”
PERSONAL AGENDA
Despite his conservative views on Israel, which include support for Israel annexing the West Bank, Huckabee stressed during his confirmation hearing that he would work to advance the policies of the Trump administration, not his own personal agenda.
“I am not here to articulate or defend my own views or policies but to present myself as one who will respect and represent the president, whose overwhelming election by the people will hopefully give me the honor of serving as ambassador to the state of Israel,” Huckabee told the U.S. Senate hearing.
He said he hopes to arrive in Israel by Passover, which starts on Saturday evening. Huckabee’s arrival was due to be welcomed by Israel’s right-wing government after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left his meeting with Trump largely empty-handed, in contrast to his triumphant visit two months ago, commentators said.
During an hourlong Oval Office appearance, Trump appeared reluctant to end 17 percent tariffs on Israeli imports. He also announced that the United States and Iran would hold talks over the Iranian nuclear program beginning this weekend.
Netanyahu has been very wary of any discussions with Iran, which Israelis regard as an existential threat amid concerns about the Islamic State’s nuclear program.
The Israeli prime minister has made clear the Jewish nation would never accept Iran having nuclear weapons and did not rule out military action against the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities.
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