U.S. evangelical leader Franklin Graham congratulated former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee on his nomination by President-elect Donald Trump as the U.S. ambassador to Israel.
In a statement posted Tuesday, Graham expressed his support: “Congratulations to [Huckabee] on his nomination by [Trump] to serve as US Ambassador to Israel. The Huckabees love Israel and will be a great blessing to the people of that country and represent America well.”
Trump's announcement of Huckabee's nomination comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tension due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Trump praised Huckabee as “the Highly Respected former Governor of Arkansas,” noting his unwavering support for Israel. “Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years. He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!”
Huckabee responded to the nomination on X, sharing, “It's been [an] incredible day as [Trump] asked me to serve as Ambassador to [Israel], a land I have been visiting since 1973 when I was a teenager. It will be a privilege to serve my country and my President in this role.”
A vocal supporter of Israel, Huckabee condemned the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the taking of over 250 hostages, including American citizens.
He compared the brutality of Hamas's actions to Nazi atrocities, but noted a distinction: “As horrible as the Nazis were, they weren’t posting their atrocities on social media and trying to trumpet what they were doing to the world,” he told the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. “Which is what makes this horrendous thing Hamas has done so much, to me, worse, because they want everyone to see what they’ve done.”
As an ordained Baptist minister, Huckabee has been a longtime advocate for Israel, opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state and supporting Israel's control of territories such as the West Bank, citing biblical interpretations for his stance.
Huckabee’s nomination drew accolades from Israeli leaders, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who praised him as “a consistent and loyal friend of the State of Israel and a supporter of the settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria.”
Smotrich expressed confidence in Huckabee's commitment, adding, “For many years [he] fought for our state and our right to all parts of the Land of Israel, [and] I have no doubt that we have won and together with him we will strengthen Israel’s security and strength and strengthen our hold in all its spaces.”
