Mike Huckabee, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to Israel, passed a significant milestone on Tuesday when the Senate voted to end debate on his nomination.
The vote was 53 to 46 in favor of advancing Huckabee’s nomination, clearing the way for a final confirmation vote. This comes amid Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
While Huckabee has been strongly supported by Republicans for his unwavering stance on Israel, Democrats have expressed concerns over his past “extreme” views on Palestinians. The former governor of Arkansas has previously stated that Israel has the right to annex the West Bank and has rejected calls for a two-state solution in relation to Gaza.
Huckabee has not clarified whether he still holds the view that Israel has a right to claim the West Bank or how he aligns with Trump’s stance on Gaza, which the president has described as a region he wants to transform into a luxury destination, while calling for the “relocation” of over two million Palestinians. During his confirmation hearing, Huckabee pushed back against the idea that Trump sought to control Gaza, emphasizing that the president never called for the “forced displacement” of Palestinians unless it was for their safety.
“If confirmed, it will be my responsibility to carry out the president’s priorities, not mine,” Huckabee said in response to questions from Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. However, Huckabee’s testimony is unlikely to win over many Democratic lawmakers.
“Huckabee’s views are not the words of a diplomat – they are those of a provocateur, whose opinions are far outside international consensus and contrary to the core principles of American diplomacy,” said Rep. Jerry Nadler, a senior Jewish Democrat from New York. “In such a volatile and sensitive region, we do not need more extremism, especially from someone in such a critical diplomatic role.”
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