For the first time since creation of the modern state of Israel, an overtly evangelical pastor has been confirmed as U.S. ambassador to the small Middle Eastern country.
On Wednesday, April 9, the U.S. Senate confirmed Trump nominee Mike Huckabee to the post. He is anticipated to take up residence in Israel as soon as next week.
The vote was 53 to 46, with Democrat John Fetterman of Pennsylvania joining all Senate Republicans to confirm the former Southern Baptist pastor.
Huckabee also is the first non-Jewish ambassador to Israel in 16 years. He is the 25th U.S. ambassador to Israel since 1949, when James Grover McDonald was nominated by President Harry Truman.
Huckabee is the first non-Jewish ambassador to Israel in 16 years.
Most previous U.S. ambassadors to Israel have served short stints of one to three years. The longest-tenured ambassador was Walworth Barbour, who served from 1961 to 1973.He was nominated by President John F. Kennedy and served through two more administrations.
The most recent ambassador, nominated by President Joe Biden, was Jack Lew, who served in the post for 14 months.
Huckabee’s confirmation drew immediate praise from Israeli officials, who view him as a staunch ally. In 2024, Huckabee was named by the Jerusalem Post the second most influential Zionist in America.
“Congratulations to my dear friend @GovMikeHuckabee upon being confirmed as the next ambassador of the United States to Israel,” wrote Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on X yesterday. “This is a great day for the Israeli-American alliance.”
Huckabee responded: “Thank you @IsraeliPM and I look forward to working with you as we pray for the ‘Peace of Jerusalem!’”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar wrote, “Just spoke with @GovMikeHuckabee and congratulated him upon his confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to Israel. He is a true friend of the Jewish state and I look forward to working together to further strengthen the unbreakable bond between our nations!”
In a video posted on social media, Huckabee explains his devotion to Israel: “You can be Jewish and have nothing whatsoever to do with Christians, but I can’t be a Christian and not have everything to do with the Jewish people, the Jewish faith, the Scriptures. Everything i believe is built on the foundation of that, so for me — and most evangelicals would say the same thing — we are people of the book. It’s simple.”
Several groups of American clergy and church-state separationists had opposed Huckabee’s nomination. There are nine Jewish members of the U.S. Senate — all Democrats or independents — and none of them voted for Huckabee.
But evangelical leaders are thrilled.
On March 26, Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, tweeted his urgent support for Huckabee: “Mike Huckabee is a world leader. His nomination should be confirmed immediately so he can arrive in Jerusalem by Passover and Easter.”
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