Huckabee, an Evangelical Christian who has previously expressed his belief that God granted historic Palestine to the modern state of Israel, is a strong advocate for Israel's expansion in the occupied West Bank, which he refers to as Judea and Samaria. He also has a close relationship with Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu.
Following the appointment, Yishai Fleisher, spokesperson for the Jewish Community of Hebron, expressed excitement, calling Huckabee a "great friend to Israel."
"We are very excited about Mike Huckabee. Governor Huckabee is an amazing person, both in his spiritual and political awareness," Fleisher told
Newsweek. "He's a great friend to Israel. He truly understands the issues, has a heart for the people of this region, and we're thrilled to have him."
Fleisher also pointed to Huckabee's support for the controversial "Pompeo doctrine," a policy initiated by former Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo that recognized Jewish settlement rights in the West Bank.
Huckabee, the father of former Trump White House press secretary, Arkansas Governor
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, is a staunch defender of Israel. His intended nomination comes as President-elect
Donald Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against
Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.