Trump Insults Us All by Nominating Mike Huckabee Ambassador to Israel

An “ambassador” is “an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.”

In this regard, what then is a “diplomat”?

1. a person appointed by a national government to conduct official negotiations and maintain political, economic, and social relations with another country or countries.
2. a person who is tactful and skillful in managing delicate situations, handling people, etc.

By naming former Arkansas governor, Baptist Evangelical pastor, former TV host, and former Republican presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee, as U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Trump has failed in fulfilling the spirit and letter of the definitions of both “ambassador” and “diplomat.”

Donald Trump insults the Jewish people of Israel and the Palestinian people of the region with his selection of Mike Huckabee, and he ensures even more instability in an already unstable area of the globe.

All ambassadors from the United States must represent the very best of their country to the nations to which they are sent. They are required to be thoughtful and sensitive negotiators serving the best interests of their country and the interest of peaceful coexistence in the world.

Mike Huckabee has none of the requisite skills and traits to serve as ambassador to anywhere on this planet, at least anywhere on what we refer to as “Earth One.”

On the Middle East

Huckabee has long rejected the idea and reality of an independent Palestinian state carved from the territory Israel seized following the 1967 war. He has argued for a “one-state solution with the Israeli government holding all power. This position contradicts longstanding U.S. policy.

He has argued, for example, that the West Bank of the Jordan River belongs to Israel, and he stated emphatically that “the title deed was given by God to Abraham and to his heirs.”

I suppose that Huckabee must have forgotten that Ishmael, the original ancestor of the Arab people, was also Abraham’s son and heir.

He condemned Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza and described the Jewish settlers evacuated by Israeli forces as having been “marched at gunpoint.” Huckabee stated: “I feel that we have a responsibility to respect that this is land that has historically belonged to the Jews.”

Well, on that score then, what we know today as “the Americas” is land that has historically belonged to indigenous peoples.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Huckabee would follow his boss, Donald Trump’s, mandate to the Netanyahu government to “do what you have to do” to wipe out Hamas and Hezbollah, which has already resulted in the deaths of over 50,000 innocent civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and in Lebanon.

John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser from 2018 to 2019, said that Trump may give Israel free rein to step up its attacks against Iran, thereby further increasing tensions and the possibility of all-out war.

“Trump is probably saying [to Israel] do whatever you want before January 20th,” said Bolton.

White Christian Nationalism:

Mike Huckabee describes himself as a conservative Christian Evangelical, and supports many of the tenets of Christian nationalism:

Historian Amanda Tyler from the Center for American Progress defines Christian nationalism as,

“…a political ideology and cultural framework that seeks to merge American and Christian identities, distorting both the Christian faith and America’s constitutional democracy. Christian nationalism relies on the mythological founding of the United States as a “Christian nation,” singled out for God’s providence in order to fulfill God’s purposes on earth. Christian nationalism demands a privileged place for Christianity in public life, buttressed by the active support of government at all levels.”

Anthea Butler from Yale University distinguishes, more specifically, what is white Christian nationalism:

“Simply put, it is the belief that America’s founding is based on Christian principles, white protestant Christianity is the operational religion of the land, and that Christianity should be the foundation of how the nation develops its laws, principles and policies.”

Huckabee has advocated for the teaching of Creationism (reframed as “Intelligent Design”) in schools to explain the genesis of the world and all its creatures. He has vigorously lobbied for a ban on marriage equality for same-sex couples, opposes abortion except in cases when there is risk to the life of the woman, and a commitment to the teaching of “abstinence only” sexuality education.

Huckabee is certainly no friend to the Palestinian people. In fact, he said that “there is no such thing as a Palestinian.” But let us be clear, Huckabee is also not a friend to the Jewish people either.

Huckabee defines himself as a “Christian Zionist.” Most American Christian Evangelicals and Christian Zionists believe in what they call “the rapture” in which the end of the world and all creatures will come about by horrific events in the Middle East.

At that time, primarily all Christians living and dead will be resurrected and delivered through the clouds into heaven to meet their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at the Second Coming. Believers will be given new bodies that God had intended before they sinned.

Jews, Muslims, and all other people will be left behind to face the Tribulation: an extended period of inflicted wrath with great suffering.

So, by joining Trump’s advisors, ambassadors, and cabinet, Mike Huckabee accepts his mandate to carry through on his boss’ patriarchal Christian white supremacist legacy of death and deception on his march to autocracy.