Is Mike Huckabee’s nomination to be ambassador to Israel in danger of being nuked by left wing activists?
Evangelical and Jewish leaders are now rallying to Huckabee’s defense
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO — From the moment Donald J. Trump won the election last November and chose former Governor Mike Huckabee to serve as his ambassador to Israel, left-wing Jewish activists and anti-Israel Muslim activists have been fighting hard to nuke his nomination.
Their impact on Senate Democrats has delayed Huckabee’s confirmation hearing, which was scheduled for March 13 but has now been pushed back to March 25.
“Mike Huckabee's appointment as Israel ambassador could be in jeopardy,” read a headline last week on Ynet News, a prominent Israeli news website.
Is that true?
Is there a serious risk of Huckabee being blocked?
Evangelical and Jewish leaders to whom ALL ISRAEL NEWS has spoken are hopeful that all 53 Republicans in the Senate will vote to confirm Huckabee and that some Democrats may, as well.
But they are also expressing concern that the opposition to Huckabee is real, serious, vitriolic, and sharply anti-Christian in nature.
LEFT-WING JEWISH GROUPS OPPOSE HUCKABEE
Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J Street – a far-left Jewish lobbying organization in Washington – was the first one out of the gate last Nov. 13, attacking Huckabee as “a right-wing, evangelical minister with a long history of championing settlement expansion, annexation, and a radical ‘Greater Israel’ agenda.”
The combination of Huckabee, Trump, Evangelicals, and the Netanyahu government would be “a recipe for disaster, not just for the state of Israel but for Jewish people around the world,” Ben-Ami charged.
Last month, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, head of a liberal Jewish coalition of Reform Rabbis, sent a letter to all U.S. Senators warning that Huckabee would not be a suitable ambassador because his views are “shaped in significant part by his deeply held evangelical faith, including what is known as ‘Christian Zionism,’” which he argued is an ideology that “professes a love of Israel rooted in the belief that Jewish sovereignty over the biblical land of Israel will hasten the return of Jesus Christ.”
Luis Moreno, a former U.S. ambassador to Jamaica and former Deputy Chief of Mission in Israel from 2007 to 2010, has blasted Huckabee’s Christian faith and love for the Bible.
Moreno calls Huckabee “a fanatic of the End of Times” and “a true and utter nut case” who “couldn’t be more dangerous selection."
ANTI-ISRAEL MUSLIM ACTIVISTS FIGHTING TO BLOCK HUCKABEE
Last month, the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR), which describes itself as “the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization,” joined the fight.
CAIR sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and to all Senate offices, “urging strong opposition to the nominations of Mike Huckabee for U.S. Ambassador to Israel.”
CAIR claimed that Huckabee has a history of “promoting anti-Muslim conspiratorial views, aligning with hate groups, and using inflammatory rhetoric.”
CAIR also warned of “the disastrous implications” of confirming Huckabee and called him “unsuitable” for such a sensitive diplomatic post.
A group called “Christians For A Free Palestine” is running a grassroots campaign to scuttle Huckabee’s nomination, arguing “his opinions are rooted in an anti-Muslim and antisemitic end-times theology, which asserts that the State of Israel should take over more land, expel non-Jews, and participate in ceaseless wars to bring about the second coming of Jesus.”
“These dangerous ideas have real-world consequences,” the group says. “As ambassador, Huckabee would undermine efforts toward peace and justice in the region and dismiss the rights and humanity of Palestinians entirely.”
PRO-ISRAEL RABBIS RALLY BEHIND HUCKABEE
Now, Evangelical and conservative Jewish leaders are pushing back, urging senators to immediately and wholeheartedly confirm Huckabee.
On Feb. 25, the Zionist Rabbinic Coalition sent a letter to all senators defending Huckabee as a true and faithful friend of Israel and the Jewish people.
“As Zionist rabbis, The Zionist Rabbinic Coalition, a non-partisan coalition of over 1,000 rabbis from all movements, appreciates the close longstanding historic relationship between the United States and Israel, and the role US ambassadors have played in preserving, expanding and deepening the bonds between our two nations,” the letter began.
“It is in that spirit that we welcome the nomination of Gov. Huckabee as being consistent with his predecessors. Gov. Huckabee is a staunch Zionist who has always fought for Jewish self-determination here in the United States and Israel. Governor Huckabee has throughout his career of public service and as a private citizen been steadfast in his devotion, commitment and love for Israel and the Jewish people. He displays a keen understanding of Israel's history as well as the security challenges and threats it faces, and how this affects the United States.”
“Governor Huckabee has the acumen and overwhelming qualifications to execute President Trump's policy in the Middle East as its next Ambassador which is….
The immediate release of all hostages
The removal of Hamas from Gaza and in Judea and Samaria
The total destruction of Iran's terrorist proxies in the region: Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria
To ensure that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon
The dismantling of UNRWA and cessation of any US tax dollar(s) for the Palestinian Authority that undermines American and Israeli interests and security
To strengthen and grow the groundbreaking Abraham Accords that will make the Middle East and our allies in the region prosper through joint security, technology, travel, and economic ventures
To deradicalize Palestinians during Gaza's reconstruction
To support American interests in Israel”
PROMINENT EVANGELICAL LEADERS URGE SENATE TO CONFIRM HUCKABEE IMMEDIATELY
ALL ISRAEL NEWS has learned that 150 prominent pro-Israel Evangelical leaders – deeply concerned about the religious bigotry being leveled against Huckabee – have also rallied to his defense.
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) told ALL ISRAEL NEWS, “Governor Huckabee has been a relentless advocate for the principles we hold dear—faith, freedom, and the defense of Judeo-Christian values.”
“His track record in both public service and international advocacy speaks for itself, and I am confident that his leadership will continue to strengthen U.S.-Israel relations while championing the causes that matter most to the evangelical community.”
Troy Miller, CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters Association, calls Huckabee “an individual who has demonstrated throughout his lifetime that he has great integrity” and says Huckabee “will undoubtedly work to ensure that the United States’ interests in Israel are paramount as he advances the Administration’s policies.”
Penny Nance, president of Concerned Women for America, told ALL ISRAEL NEWS, “Mike Huckabee is a man of unwavering integrity, profound wisdom, and deep moral conviction. For decades, he has been an unrelenting advocate for Israel’s right to exist and flourish as a sovereign nation, consistently demonstrating his commitment. He understands the vital importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship, not only as a strategic alliance but as a bond rooted in shared values. There is no one more qualified or dedicated to serve as a friend and ally to Israel than Mike Huckabee, and I strongly urge the Senate to confirm him as U.S. Ambassador to Israel."
AMERICAN CHRISTIAN LEADERS FOR ISRAEL SEND PRO-HUCKABEE LETTER TO THE SENATE
Dr. Susan Michael is the U.S. President of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) and the founder and director of American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI).
Michael issued this statement to ALL ISRAEL NEWS: “I am proud to endorse Governor Mike Huckabee for the position of U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Governor Huckabee’s frequent visits to Israel over several decades have provided him with a deep, practical understanding of the challenges the nation faces. His longstanding relationships with Israeli leaders position him as a credible and respected voice. Huckabee understands that his role is to represent the interests of the United States Administration, ensuring that our commitment to Israel remains steadfast.”
Dr. Michael and ACLI just sent a letter to all senators – signed by 150 Evangelical leaders – strongly supporting Huckabee’s confirmation.
The following is the text of the ACLI letter:
Dear Senator:
We are writing to you to express our strong support for the nomination of Governor Mike Huckabee as the United States Ambassador to Israel. We believe that his commitment to the US-Israel relationship, coupled with his extensive experience and leadership qualities, make him an ideal candidate for this crucial diplomatic position.
Governor Huckabee has been a long-standing ally of Israel, consistently advocating for policies that strengthen the bond between our two nations. His unwavering dedication to ensuring Israel’s security aligns closely with the values held by millions of Americans who recognize the importance of this vital partnership.
Maintaining positive US-Israel relations has historically been a bipartisan issue, and Governor Huckabee’s strong pro-Israel stance aligns with core American foreign policy interests.
Additionally, his frequent visits to Israel give him a practical, on-the-ground understanding of Israel’s challenges, and his long-standing relationships with Israeli leaders make him a credible, respected voice to Israeli leaders.
Furthermore, his job as ambassador is not to represent the voice of Palestinians but the voice of the United States administration.
His leadership has consistently reflected a profound respect and understanding of Israel’s unique challenges. Governor Huckabee’s diplomacy skills and ability to communicate effectively will serve as invaluable assets in fostering deeper bilateral relations.
We acknowledge the importance of appointing ambassadors who not only support our national interests but also embody the cooperative spirit of international diplomacy. Governor Huckabee has consistently demonstrated his ability to do just that.
We respectfully urge the Senate to move forward with his confirmation, as we are confident that his leadership will be instrumental in advancing the interests of both the United States and Israel.
TRUMP MADE HISTORY BY APPOINTING THE FIRST DEVOUT EVANGELICAL AS AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL
This is the first time in history that an American president has chosen an ambassador to Israel who is so openly and unashamedly committed to his love for Jesus Christ and the Bible.
In addition to hosting the most popular show on TBN – the most-watched Christian television network in the U.S. – Huckabee has served on the ALL ISRAEL NEWS Advisory Board and was the first person to agree to do so when we established this media platform on Sept. 1, 2020.
Thus, Huckabee’s appointment sends a powerful message about President Trump’s intention to stand solidly and unwaveringly with Israel – and to reject the failed Middle East policies of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, of which Huckabee has been a sharp critic.
His appointment is also an unmistakable sign of just how seriously President Trump regards the enormous influence of the tens of millions of Evangelical Christians in the United States who love Israel and the Jewish people.
Joel C. Rosenberg is the editor-in-chief of ALL ISRAEL NEWS and ALL ARAB NEWS and the President and CEO of Near East Media. A New York Times best-selling author, Middle East analyst, and Evangelical leader, he lives in Jerusalem with his wife and sons.
