Mike Huckabee, recently nominated as US ambassador to Israel by President-elect Donald Trump, has sparked significant controversy with his strong pro-Israel stance and views on Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Huckabee has been a consistent supporter of Israeli territorial expansion, openly challenging the concept of occupation. In a 2017 press conference, he declared, “There’s no such thing as a settlement. They’re communities, they’re neighbourhoods, they’re cities.” He has also stated that “Israel has title deed to Judea and Samaria,” using the Israeli terminology for the occupied West Bank.
The appointment has been warmly received by far-right Israeli ministers, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. They view Huckabee as a “loyal friend” who aligns with their political agenda of expanding Israeli settlements and potentially annexing Palestinian territories.
This enthusiasm stems from the previous Trump administration’s policies, which were notably more favorable to Israeli settlement expansion. In 2019, the administration declared Israeli settlements not illegal under international law, contradicting decades of previous US policy.
Smotrich has already indicated plans for 2025 to be the “year of sovereignty” in the West Bank, suggesting preparations for potential annexation. This prospect deeply concerns Palestinian politicians like Mustafa Barghouti, who warns about the potential international implications of such actions.
Trump also announced Steve Witkoff as his special envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff, a real estate developer and Trump’s golf buddy, has previously praised Trump’s Middle East leadership, claiming that during Trump’s presidency, the region experienced “historic levels of peace and stability.”
Netanyahu’s decision to nominate Yechiel Leiter, a hardline settler supporter, as Israeli ambassador to Washington further suggests an expectation of a receptive incoming US administration.
However, some political observers are cautious about assuming automatic support for settler expansion. Tal Schneider, a political correspondent, notes that despite pro-settlement advisors in the previous administration, policies didn’t always align completely with settler expectations.
Palestinian perspectives are overwhelmingly negative. Barghouti argues that Huckabee’s statements are “contradictory to international law” and will be “bad news for the cause of peace in this region.” They view the appointments as further evidence that a potential two-state solution is becoming increasingly unlikely.
The ongoing Gaza war and subsequent Arab anger have already complicated efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Arab states, a process initiated during the previous Trump administration through the Abraham Accords.
As tensions remain high, Huckabee has maintained a diplomatic stance, stating he will “carry out the policy of the president” while expressing confidence in continuing the previous administration’s pro-Israel approach.
