Anti-Israel protesters interrupt Huckabee hearing, attack Trump nominee’s faith
A tumultuous start to the Senate confirmation hearing for Mike Huckabee, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to Israel, saw a series of disruptive protests erupt as Huckabee delivered his opening statement. Capitol Police officers were forced to remove several protesters who shouted messages like “Jews say no” and “Free Palestine,” accusing Huckabee of using Christianity to justify ethnic cleansing. One protester even shouted, “Israel and U.S. have desecrated the Holy Land, stop the ethnic cleansing.”
Despite the disruptions, Huckabee maintained his composure, joking that at least the protesters were not members of his family. However, the interruptions continued, prompting an exasperated response from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch.
Huckabee, a staunch Israel supporter and evangelical Christian who previously served as governor of Arkansas, is set to face questions from the committee alongside other nominees for diplomatic positions. He has been nominated by former President Donald Trump to play a crucial role in efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
During his opening statement, Huckabee emphasized the significance of Israel to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike, describing it as “holy ground.” With the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas recently collapsing, Huckabee expressed support for Trump’s policy of maximum pressure on Iran, in response to the regime’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
When questioned about his previous support for Israel’s annexation of the West Bank, Huckabee clarified that he would be working in alignment with the president’s policies. Similarly, he deferred to the president’s prerogative on the issue of annexing Gaza.
In a tense exchange with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Huckabee was asked about his stance on Israel withholding food aid to Gaza. While Huckabee condemned collective punishment, he hesitated to directly criticize Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich’s controversial comments about potentially starving Palestinians in Gaza.
As the confirmation hearing continues, Huckabee faces scrutiny over his views on key issues related to the Israel-Palestine conflict. His responses will be closely watched as he navigates the complex and sensitive diplomatic landscape in the role of U.S. ambassador to Israel.
