Trump’s Israel Envoy Huckabee Challenged in Confirmation Hearing/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Mike Huckabee, Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to Israel, appears before the Senate amid renewed fighting in Gaza. His long-standing opposition to a two-state solution and strong Zionist views raise concerns. The hearing follows Trump’s controversial Middle East proposals and shifting U.S. policy.
Huckabee Israel Nomination Quick Looks
- Huckabee to testify before Senate as Gaza conflict reignites.
- He’s a staunch supporter of Israel and rejects a two-state solution.
- Trump nominated him shortly after reelection, promising to end the war.
- Huckabee favors annexation of the West Bank, calling it “Judea and Samaria.”
- He once questioned the identity of Palestinians, calling the term “co-opted.”
- Prepared remarks praise Trump’s embassy move and Abraham Accords.
- Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have recently collapsed.
- Trump has floated a controversial U.S. “takeover” of Gaza.
- Huckabee expected to defend Trump’s Israel policies during testimony.
- Kevin Cabrera, nominee to Panama, also testifying on canal security concerns.
Trump’s Israel Envoy Huckabee Challenged in Confirmation Hearing
Deep Look
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee will face a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday as President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to Israel, stepping into a complex and volatile diplomatic arena as fighting in Gaza resumes. The hearing comes just days after Israeli forces launched a renewed air campaign against Hamas in Gaza, derailing ceasefire talks and reigniting regional tensions.
Huckabee’s nomination marks a clear signal of the Trump administration’s intensified support for Israel and its shift away from traditional U.S. diplomatic positions, particularly on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Known for his evangelical Christian beliefs and deep ties to pro-Israel advocacy, Huckabee has long opposed a two-state solution and voiced support for Israeli annexation of the West Bank, which he often refers to by its biblical name, “Judea and Samaria.”
If confirmed, Huckabee would serve as the U.S. ambassador in Jerusalem—a position Trump solidified during his first term by moving the American embassy there from Tel Aviv. Huckabee is expected to reaffirm those policies during his testimony, which The Associated Press obtained in advance.
In the prepared remarks, Huckabee praises the Trump administration’s past Middle East achievements, including recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and the signing of the Abraham Accords—normalization deals with several Arab nations, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
“President Trump’s first term was the most consequential for Israel and the Middle East ever,” Huckabee will say, citing the Abraham Accords and embassy move as landmark decisions.
However, Huckabee’s hardline views on the Palestinian issue are expected to draw scrutiny. In a 2024 interview, he dismissed the existence of a distinct Palestinian identity, stating, “There really isn’t such a thing,” and attributing the term to Yasser Arafat’s 1960s-era political strategy. He also described himself as an “unapologetic, unreformed Zionist.”
Those views may inflame an already sensitive diplomatic landscape. The collapse of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, coupled with intensifying Israeli military action, has raised the possibility of a prolonged reoccupation of Gaza—a scenario the Biden administration once firmly opposed. Trump, for his part, has floated the idea of a U.S.-led intervention in Gaza, a suggestion widely criticized by Arab governments.
Lawmakers are expected to press Huckabee on his stance toward these ideas, as well as on broader regional threats, including growing tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon and the influence of Iran and its proxies, such as the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
While Huckabee’s prepared remarks do not directly address annexation or Gaza intervention plans, they sharply criticize past American diplomacy in the region, suggesting a need to explore “entirely new ways” to promote peace.
Meanwhile, Kevin Cabrera, Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Panama, will also testify Tuesday. His hearing comes in the wake of Trump’s remarks suggesting the U.S. should retake control of the Panama Canal, a comment that sparked backlash in Panama City and raised concerns among regional leaders.
Cabrera’s prepared testimony underscores the strategic importance of the canal, especially amid U.S.-China tensions. He commends Panama’s recent decision to pull out of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and review port operations controlled by a Chinese company, which has signaled a willingness to divest.
“One of the key aspects of our cooperation is ensuring the security of the Panama Canal,” Cabrera will say, adding that the waterway is “a critical international resource for global trade and economic growth.”
The dual hearings highlight how Trump’s second term is shaping a foreign policy increasingly defined by muscular nationalism, hardline security stances, and reasserted U.S. influence—particularly in regions where strategic and ideological interests converge.
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