US Senate votes largely along party lines to confirm Huckabee as next Israel envoy

The US Senate has voted almost entirely along party lines to confirm the nomination of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee to be the Trump administration’s ambassador to Israel.

Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania — an ardent supporter of Israel and virtually the only Democratic ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — was the only lawmaker to break with his party to join Republicans in backing Huckabee’s nomination.

The final vote tally was 53 to 46 in favor of Huckabee, a passionate evangelical supporter of Israel and its settlement movement.

Despite his conservative views on Israel, which include support for Israel annexing the West Bank, Huckabee stressed during his confirmation hearing that he would work to advance the policies of the Trump administration, not his own personal agenda.

He said last month that he hopes to arrive in Israel by Passover, which starts on Saturday evening.