Potential Hostage Deal and Huckabee in a Trump Presidency
I remember shaking Mike Huckabee’s hand at the 2016 Republican convention in Fort Dodge with my Aunt-in-Law. He was running for president then, having already won the 2008 Iowa Republican Caucuses (when he said, “Tonight, I love Iowa a whole lot.”). A week after we met Huckabee in 2016 he dropped out of the presidential campaign, but now he’s back in the political arena with a new mission. We wondered, with Huckabee on tap as Ambassador to Israel, what could U.S. relations with Israel look like with Donald Trump as President? Trump himself may have answered that question with an ultimatum to Hamas if they don’t release the hostages: “All hell will break out. If those hostages aren’t back … If they’re not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East.” He added, “And it will not be good for Hamas. And it will not be good, frankly, for anyone.” 98 hostages are still held by Hamas in Gaza, seven of whom are Americans. And half of the remaining hostages are likely dead according to Israeli intelligence, including four of the Americans. CIA director Bill Burns has said that the hostages are held in, “hellish conditions in tunnels and Gaza civilians are also in hellish conditions and suffering terribly.” A s part of Trump’s promise, he assures that all restrictions on the supply of military aid to Israel will be removed immediately upon his inauguration, thereby assisting the IDF’s power. Currently, a de facto US embargo on one shipment and some war-related equipment is in play. Special envoy to the Middle East, in Trump’s Administration, Steven Witkoff, who is involved in efforts to secure a deal to release the hostages in Hamas captivity, says that “really great progress” has been made toward their release. Sources are further saying that a connection between Trump’s promise and the Israeli-Lebanon ceasefire agreement exists with the expectation that the IDF can fight more freely with Trump in office. The Washington Post reports that a rushed ceasefire deal between Iran and Lebanon, brokered by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, PM Netanyahu’s confidant, is in the works to make Trump look good with an early foreign policy win when he takes office. Hezbollah would be required to retreat past the Litani River in order for the ceasefire deal to evolve, and the terms would be overseen by the U.S. and Great Britain. Meetings for Mike Huckabee are already taking place within this context – last Thursday he met with Binyamin Regional Governor and Yesha Council Chairman Israel Ganz to discuss how a Trump presidency would regard Israel, whilst Huckabee also spoke at an event for the Binyamin Regional Council/One Israel Fund that intends to raise money for the Binyamin Region. Ganz stressed the importance of the recent meetings with U.S. officials after a sense of cooperation with the White House had been missing. He also said of Huckabee, “I wished him great success in the position. The land of the Bible, the state of the Jewish people, and the entire world are looking forward to a new era under the incoming administration. They can advance a policy based on the truth that the land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel and the axis of evil must be eradicated from every place. This road passes through the strengthening of Judea and Samaria, and the State of Israel.” If an agreement for the release of the hostages is reached (Trump’s goal is by January 20), 33 hostages could be released, both living and deceased. Initially, the deal would include a 6-7 week ceasefire in Gaza, while Israel releases hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including those who murdered Israelis. Those involved with the potential deal say, “There’s every reason for political leaders to recognize that enough is enough. That perfect is rarely on the menu in the Middle East and it’s time to make a deal.” Again, the timeline for a deal for the release of the hostages, set by those currently negotiating, is Trump’s inauguration day.