President-elect Trump announced on Tuesday that he will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) to serve as ambassador to Israel.
This position is of significant diplomatic significance and will be further emphasized in light of the current Middle East tensions.
Israel has waged war against Hamas for more than a year in response to the terrorist organization’s October 2023 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 Israeli citizens.
Despite his criticism of Israel’s military campaign, Trump has encouraged it to “finalize the issue.”
However, tensions have also been increasing between Israel and Hezbollah, the militant organization that maintains a significant presence in Lebanon.
From 1996 to 2007, Huckabee was the governor of Arkansas, where he won two complete terms after succeeding former Gov. Jim Guy Tucker (R), who resigned.
In both 2008 and 2016, he was unsuccessful in his presidential campaigns.
In June, Huckabee stated to NewsNation that he did not see a reason to support an Israel-Hamas cease-fire, maintaining that the terrorist group should not be negotiated with and that the only way to end the war was through its complete surrender.
He has occasionally commented on the current war in Gaza.
The former governor has not previously held a diplomatic position.
Trump will be under pressure to alleviate tensions in the Middle East, which necessitates Senate confirmation of his nomination.
[READ MORE: Kamala Even Came up Short Among Women Voters]