Mike Huckabee: Shifting US-Israel dynamics?

President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Mike Huckabee as the US ambassador to Israel has reignited debates over American policy in the Middle East. Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas and a long-time ally of Israel’s right wing, offers a glimpse into what might be a continuation — and perhaps an intensification — of Trump’s previous policies that heavily favored Israeli territorial ambitions.

Huckabee’s public statements provide little room for ambiguity. From declaring that there’s “no such thing as an occupation” to endorsing Israel’s “title deed to Judea and Samaria” (the biblical terms for the occupied West Bank), he aligns squarely with the ideology of Israeli settlers. His views have resonated warmly with far-right Israeli figures like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, who congratulated Huckabee’s appointment with notable enthusiasm.

These leaders see Huckabee’s selection as a green light to advance their agenda, including the annexation of the West Bank. Smotrich’s declaration that 2025 would be “the year of sovereignty” underscores their confidence that Huckabee will act as a sympathetic bridge between Washington and Israel’s far right.

While Huckabee’s past rhetoric aligns him with annexationists, it remains uncertain whether his appointment will translate into immediate policy shifts in Washington. Analysts caution that not all pro-settler aspirations materialized even during Trump’s first term. However, the stakes are undeniably higher now, with tensions inflamed by the ongoing war in Gaza and Arab discontent over Palestinian suffering.

Under Trump’s previous administration, the Abraham Accords sought to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab nations, an initiative that garnered mixed reviews. While the accords were hailed as a milestone for regional stability, the ongoing Gaza conflict has eroded much of that goodwill.

Huckabee’s appointment, alongside Trump’s pick of Steve Witkoff as a special envoy to the Middle East, suggests a renewed focus on reinforcing Israel’s position rather than mending frayed ties with the Arab world.

Though Witkoff lacks foreign policy credentials, he reflects Trump’s preference for loyalists over seasoned diplomats. His assertion that Trump’s leadership brought “historic levels of peace and stability” to the region starkly contrasts with reality on the ground.

Netanyahu’s nomination of Yechiel Leiter, a hardline figure with roots in the far-right Jewish Defense League, as Israel’s ambassador to Washington further signals an alignment of visions between Israel’s right-wing leadership and the incoming US administration. With Huckabee and Leiter positioned as key players, the likelihood of policies favoring annexation and settlement expansion increases.

Yet, this trajectory is fraught with potential fallout. Critics warn that such moves could destabilize the region, alienate European allies, and render any talk of a two-state solution moot. Moreover, they risk further inflaming Arab nations, jeopardizing the fragile progress of the Abraham Accords.

As Huckabee steps into his role, the direction of US-Israel relations hinges on more than his personal views. Trump’s broader foreign policy priorities, domestic political considerations, and global pressures will all shape the administration’s approach. What is clear, however, is that Huckabee’s appointment has sent a strong signal: the Trump administration’s second term may amplify its support for Israel’s far-right agenda.

For the Israeli right, it’s an opportunity. For the rest of the world, it’s a question of how to respond to a US-Israel relationship that seems poised to push the boundaries of international law and diplomatic norms.