Report: Huckabee blasts Israel for not granting visas to US Christian groups, threatens reciprocal steps

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee delivers remarks as US President Donald Trump hosts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a dinner in the Blue Room of the White House on July 7, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik / Getty Images via AFP)
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee delivers remarks as US President Donald Trump hosts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a dinner in the Blue Room of the White House on July 7, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik / Getty Images via AFP)

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee has written a scathing letter to Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, blasting his office for not granting visas to Christian groups trying to visit Israel, Channel 12 reports.

In the letter, Huckabee, a Baptist minister and longtime supporter of Israel, expressed his “profound disappointment” that a previous meeting between the two on the issue did not lead to any improvement. In fact, “the situation has actually gotten worse,” writes Huckabee.

He stresses that Evangelical Christian groups are friends of Israel, but they are being treated “like enemies.”

Huckabee threatens that the embassy will be forced to announce publicly that Israel does not welcome Christian groups and harasses them instead. The embassy would also warn US Christians that their support is being met with hostility, and that tourists should reconsider their plans.

Huckabee also threatens reciprocal measures against Israelis trying to get visas to visit the US.

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