Trump Nominates Mike Huckabee as Ambassador to Israel: He Believes West Bank Doesn't Exist

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee to serve as US ambassador to Israel.

Huckabee is a staunch advocate for Israel, and his proposed nomination comes at a time when Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy with Israel's interests.

“Mike has been a great public servant, governor, and leader of faith for many years,” Trump said in a statement. “He loves Israel and the people of Israel, and the people of Israel love Mike. Mike will work tirelessly to achieve peace in the Middle East!”

For years, Huckabee has led paid group visits to Israel, and the trips are frequently advertised in conservative media outlets.

Huckabee, a Christian pastor born in 1955, is known as a strong supporter of Israel. He also supports settlements on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Immediately after the news of Huckabee’s appointment was announced, social media platforms circulated a video clip dating back to 2017 in which he says: “There is no such thing as the West Bank, it is Judea and Samaria. There is no such thing as settlements, they are communities, they are neighborhoods, they are cities. There is no such thing as occupation.”

(Agencies)