Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, two-time presidential candidate, and television host, has been named President-elect Donald Trump's ambassador to Israel.
Huckabee will be the first evangelical Christian to hold this role.
President Trump said in a statement Tuesday:
I am pleased to announce that highly respected former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has been nominated to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Mike has served as an outstanding public servant, governor, and faith leader for many years. God loves Israel and the people of Israel, and the people of Israel love God as well. Mike continues to work tirelessly to bring peace to the Middle East!
The selection of Huckabee, a Christian Zionist who has long supported the Jewish state, will please pro-Israel supporters in both the Jewish and Christian communities.
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee gestures and speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem, Wednesday, August 19, 2015. Mr. Huckabee vowed Wednesday to abandon major U.S. policy in the Middle East if elected next year, endorsing positions that would push the United States into a corner. It is at odds with its closest allies. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Mr. Huckabee was considered for the position in 2016, but ultimately helped move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and ultimately helped conclude the Abraham Accords between Israel and several Arab nations. Trump lawyer David Friedman was given the position.
Huckabee is known for his support of Jewish communities in Judea and Samara, also known as the West Bank. Activists from some of these communities have been targeted by sanctions by the Biden-Harris administration.
This land is central to the region's Jewish history, but it was occupied by Jordan from 1948 to 1967, when Jordan foolishly joined Arab states in attacking Israel. Israel fought back and conquered the land, which the Palestinians now claim as their own.
Huckabee is currently hosting huckabee on evangelical station TBN, the world's largest Christian network.
As a presidential candidate, Huckabee won the 2008 Iowa caucuses, but was defeated in the Republican primary. He endorsed Trump before the 2016 Iowa caucuses.
Huckabee's daughter, Sarah, is currently the governor of Arkansas and previously served as White House press secretary in the first Trump administration.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday Sunday nights from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET (4:00 PM to 7:00 PM PT) on Sirius XM Patriot. he is the author of Agenda: What should President Trump do in his first 100 days?available for pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author of Trumpian Virtues: Lessons and Legacy of the Donald Trump Presidencynow available on Audible. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpolak.
