When Israel’s Far Right Becomes a Threat to America’s Interests
Mike Huckabee is a very convenient US ambassador to Israel for the Netanyahu government. Indeed, it is often difficult to distinguish between Huckabee’s positions and those of the far-right government in Israel.
His vision on the Palestinian issue aligns with that of far-right Minister Bezalel Smotrich; both desire Armageddon, even if they disagree on which messiah will come afterward, Jesus or the son of David. Precisely because of these factors, the sharp tweet by Huckabee against Itamar Ben Gvir’s recent handling of the Gaza solidarity flotilla was an unusual and important moment.
Huckabee wrote that the flotilla was a “foolish stunt,” adding that Ben Gvir “betrayed the honor of his nation” and that his actions were disgraceful. When such criticism comes not from one of the regular critics of the Israeli government, but rather from an American ambassador closely connected to the Israeli right, it is an exceptional event.
The images of a minister in the Israeli government using the national flag and anthem to humiliate detained foreign citizens did not convey strength, but rather a moral abyss. It is no coincidence that both Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to condemn Ben Gvir. Netanyahu, who brought Ben Gvir into the heart of power and entrusted him with responsibility for Israeli law enforcement, understood that this time the damage caused by Ben Gvir extends beyond the boundaries of the internal political arena and that it is a direct blow to the status of the state of Israel – not only in the liberal democratic world but also in Trump’s America.
The fact that many countries, including those friendly to Israel such as Italy, summoned Israeli ambassadors for reprimand does not really interest Netanyahu, much like the criticism from the Democratic Party in the US. Only when the Trump administration takes practical steps, in the way that France, Poland, and others have already announced they will ban Ben Gvir from their countries, will we see a change. In the meantime, the United States has spoken harsh words, but it has not taken concrete actions.
If the American administration truly believes that Ben Gvir’s conduct is disgraceful, it must demonstrate its disapproval not only through a tweet but also through actions. They must make it clear to Netanyahu that a National Security Minister who behaves this way cannot continue to hold power and wreak havoc. Ben Gvir is not just a moral or PR problem; he is a national security risk. The Kahane supporter who has managed to shape large parts of the police in his image could, with one decision regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque, spark a conflagration of the entire region – and ahead of the elections, he might even have an interest in doing so.
It would be a disaster for us but also for Trump’s vision, as someone who claims to be a peacemaker and still fantasizes about winning a Nobel Prize.
The Trump administration is not known for its sensitivity to democracy and liberal values. But even such an administration should understand a simple truth: Ben Gvir in his position endangers not only Israeli democracy but also American interests in the Middle East and regional stability. He is a habitual arsonist with the strongest of matches in his hand, and every now and then he decides to light them.
It is not easy to say this, and certainly not easy to ask the United States to exert pressure for a change in the composition of the Israeli government. In principle, such an approach is not the preferred way. Israel needs to be able to defend itself against extremist elements within. But when the prime minister is unwilling to do so and perhaps even prefers to keep Ben Gvir in power with the aim of stirring chaos that will serve him politically, the responsibility falls on Israel’s close partners.
The United States has failed to stop the rampage of settler terrorism in the West Bank, illegal outpost construction, and de facto annexation led by Smotrich. In the context of Ben Gvir’s abominable behavior, the US ambassador finally said the right thing. Now Huckabee and the administration he represents must understand that words are not enough and that Smotrich, Ben Gvir’s messianic partner, also poses a threat to Trump’s vision.
Every minute that Ben Gvir and Smotrich are in office is a danger to the stability of the entire region, not to mention the citizens of Israel and Israeli democracy. Unlike Maduro of Venezuela, Ben Gvir and Smotrich do not need to be kidnapped; Trump can simply inform Netanyahu that he needs to fire them before we, the Israeli public, get rid of them in the upcoming elections – and the sooner the better!