Who is Mike Huckabee, the US evangelical, pro-settlement envoy to Israel?

US President-elect Donald Trump has announced nan assignment of pro-settlement erstwhile Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee arsenic nan US ambassador to Israel.

The arguable governmental fig and TV characteristic who claims to person visited Israel much than 100 times will switch Jack Lew, who has held nan position for a year.

Who is Mike Huckabee, and what was he doing earlier this appointment?

The devout 69-year-old evangelical Christian was calved successful nan confederate US authorities of Arkansas.

He served arsenic politician of his location authorities betwixt 1996 and 2007 earlier launching unsuccessful bids to beryllium nan Republican statesmanlike campaigner during nan 2008 and 2016 superior seasons.

Between these 2 bids, he had his ain talk show, Huckabee, which ran connected nan Fox News Network betwixt 2008 and 2015.

In 2017, nan show was revived and broadcast connected TBN, a Christian-based broadcast tv network.

Since ending his run for statesmanlike candidacy successful 2016, Huckabee has consistently supported Trump.

Donald Trump and Mike Huckabee shingle hands aft participating successful a roundtable chat hosted by Building America’s Future successful Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, connected October 29, 2024 [File: Charly Triballeau/AFP]

What is Huckabee’s position connected Israel and Palestine?

Huckabee is simply a staunch protagonist of Israel.

After his appointment, Trump released a connection successful which he said Huckabee “loves Israel, and nan group of Israel, and likewise, nan group of Israel emotion him. Mike will activity tirelessly to bring astir Peace successful nan Middle East!”

His assignment demonstrates a “very hawkish, very pro-right-wing Israel” attack by nan Trump administration, Yossi Mekelberg, an master connected Israel astatine nan Chatham House deliberation tank, told Al Jazeera.

He said Huckabee’s assignment is akin to that of David Friedman, who served arsenic US Ambassador to Israel betwixt 2017 and 2021 and supports Jewish settlements successful nan occupied West Bank.

Huckabee views Israel arsenic an “overwhelming state of nan United States”, Paul Musgrave, an subordinate professor of authorities astatine Georgetown University successful Qatar, told Al Jazeera.

“He will surely beryllium a beardown sound for a pro-Israel faction successful nan management and nan country,” he said.

Huckabee has tied his evangelical religion to support for Israeli power of nan West Bank and his support for Israeli settlements, which are forbidden nether world law.

In an question and reply successful 2017 pinch nan CNN news network, he said: “There is nary specified point arsenic a West Bank. It’s Judea and Samaria (the territory’s biblical name). There’s nary specified point arsenic a settlement. They’re communities, they’re neighbourhoods, they’re cities. There’s nary specified point arsenic an occupation.”

Huckabee has gone arsenic acold arsenic to mobility Palestinian identity.

During his Republican statesmanlike campaign, he said: “I request to beryllium observant astir saying this, because group will really get upset – there’s really nary specified point arsenic a Palestinian.”

Huckabee is against a two-state solution.

Instead, successful various TV interviews, he has propagated nan thought that “there’s plentifulness of land” for Palestinians successful countries specified arsenic Jordan, Egypt and Syria.

Mike Huckabee visits a ample settler enclave, called Maale HaZeitim, successful nan Ras al-Amoud neighbourhood of occupied East Jerusalem connected August 17, 2009 [File: David Furst/AFP]

He has besides criticised US President Joe Biden for requesting that Israel temper immoderate of its actions successful nan war connected Gaza and nan administration’s calls for a ceasefire.

“If a personification is pro-Israel, really tin you beryllium pro-Biden because nan Biden management has made it very clear they will make concessions to Hamas,” Huckabee said successful an question and reply successful March connected News Nation.

In a caller question and reply pinch a podcaster, he labelled himself an “unapologetic, unreformed Zionist”.

He besides said “radical Muslims want to return america backmost to nan seventh century” adding “I don’t want to spell backmost there”. He said: “I for illustration modernity.”

What has nan guidance been for illustration successful Israel to his appointment?

The Israeli government, successful its existent form, will beryllium very pleased pinch nan assignment of an ambassador who supports settlements and annexation, Mekelberg said.

Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right, pro-settler information minister, took to X to observe Huckabee’s appointment, simply posting emojis of nan US flag, nan Israeli emblem and a bosom alongside nan erstwhile Arkansas governor’s name.

Mike Huckabee 🇺🇸❤️🇮🇱

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) November 12, 2024

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to nan UN, took to X to connection congratulations to Huckabee, who he described arsenic “my beloved friend”.

“I look guardant to continuing to activity pinch you and to strengthening nan eternal enslaved our 2 countries share!” Danon wrote.

Mekelberg said moreover though it will raise concerns astir immoderate imaginable bid agreement, nan Israeli public, successful general, will beryllium supportive as, fixed nan existent climate, “anyone who expresses afloat support of Israel will beryllium welcome.”

What tin beryllium expected from his term?

It is excessively early to show really his assignment will impact Israel’s strategy for Gaza, nan occupied West Bank and Lebanon, Musgrave said.

However, he noted it apt indicates that location will beryllium small “pushback” from a Trump management against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s warfare plans.

It is simply a sentiment shared by Mekelberg, who said immoderate fears successful nan Israeli management that an incoming ambassador could person placed restraints connected really Israel whitethorn behaviour itself will person “eased considerably” aft Huckabee’s appointment.