From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Israeli leaders hail confirmation of ‘dear friend’ Mike Huckabee as US ambassador
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleNava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials post statements on social media welcoming the Trump administration’s newly confirmed US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
“Congratulations to my dear friend [Mike Huckabee] upon being confirmed as the next ambassador of the United States to Israel. This is a great day for the Israeli-American alliance,” writes Netanyahu on X.
“I look forward to working with you to make the unbreakable bond between our two nations even stronger,” the premier adds.
In a 53-46 final tally, the US Senate voted almost entirely along party lines to confirm the nomination of Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and passionate evangelical supporter of Israel and its settlement movement.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says he spoke to Huckabee on the phone, calling him “a true friend of the Jewish state.” Sa’ar says he looks “forward to working together to further strengthen the unbreakable bond between our nations!”
Israeli envoy to the United Nations Danny Danon says he’s “known Mike for decades — he is a true friend of Israel and the Jewish people.”
Huckabee said last month that he hopes to arrive in Israel by Passover, which starts on Saturday evening.
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