From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Israel envoy nominee Huckabee downplays his pro-settler views during US Senate hearing
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, urges lawmakers at his confirmation hearing not to judge him based on his past views, but on his ability to represent the administration.
The remarks appear to be an effort to pivot from his staunch support for the Israeli settlement movement, Israeli annexation of the West Bank and opposition to Palestinian statehood, which have drawn the ire of Democrats.
With Republicans making up the majority on the committee, though, the support of Democrats is not needed for Huckabee to be confirmed.
“The Founders recognized that Senate approval was not necessarily Senate agreement with the president, his policies or even with those he selected to represent him; but the Senate affirms that those nominated be thoroughly examined to determine moral and legal fitness to serve,” Huckabee says.
“I’m aware that not everyone on this committee will agree with the president’s policies or his personal choices in his administration,” the former Arkansas governor says. “I’m not here to articulate or even defend my own views or policies, but rather to present myself as one who will respect and represent the overwhelmingly elected president.”
“President Trump’s historic first-term success with the Abraham Accords gives us real hope of what will happen over the next four years,” Huckabee says.
Huckabee shares his personal story growing up poor in the city of Hope, Arkansas. “Not one in my entire family lineage had ever graduated from high school, [so] the very notion that I would one day be governor of my state or be nominated to serve as an ambassador would have been laughable in my childhood.”
“I stand here today grateful to God for His grace and goodness; and it is the only explanation for my being here,” he continues. “I would say the same for the nation that I’ve been nominated to deploy to.”
He recalls that the Senate in a bipartisan manner swiftly confirmed the previous nominee to serve as US ambassador to Israel — Jack Lew — shortly after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, onslaught.
“That sense of urgency has not ended. That war continues, and for that reason, I respectfully ask your thoughtful consideration for confirmation to become our nation’s ambassador to the State of Israel,” Huckabee says.
As Huckabee speaks, he is three times interrupted by screeching far-left, anti-Israel protesters who are quickly removed from the Senate chambers and arrested.
