Trump picks pro-settlement Mike Huckabee as US ambassador to Israel
Al Jazeera
Trump’s former Republican rival has a history of support for illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
President-elect Donald Trump has announced the nomination of his former 2016 Republican primary election opponent Mike Huckabee to the post of United States ambassador to Israel.
“I am pleased to announce that the Highly Respected former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, has been nominated to be The United States Ambassador to Israel…”, Trump wrote via his TruthSocial platform on Tuesday.
Huckabee, who served as Arkansas governor from 1996 to 2007, also made two unsuccessful bids for president during the 2008 and 2016 Republican primary campaigns.
His daughter, current Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee-Sanders, also served as Trump’s press secretary for part of his first term as president, from 2017 to 2019.
“Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Fatih for many years. He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him”, a statement attached to Trump’s TruthSocial post read. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!”
