Israel bombs historic Lebanese city as Blinken urges halt to war
Israeli air strikes pound Tyre, a historic Lebanese port city. Israel began to bomb roughly three hours after issuing an order online for residents to flee central areas of the UNESCO-listed city.
This story has been updated to add new information.
President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he planned to nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel.
“I am pleased to announce that the Highly Respected former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, has been nominated to be The United States Ambassador to Israel,” Trump said in a press release Tuesday.
“Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years. He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!”
Huckabee was the governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007 and ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2015. He’s also the father of current Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who started her political career working on his gubernatorial reelection campaign in 2002. She later served as Trump’s press secretary.
An evangelical Christian and strong supporter of Israel in its year-long offensive in Gaza, Huckabee has voiced opposition to the idea of a negotiated ceasefire between the Israeli military and the Palestinian militant group Hamas even as the conflict threatens to expand into a regional war.
Haaretz reported that Huckabee was considered for the role in 2016 and had expressed support for expansion of Israeli settlements and annexation of the West Bank at the time.
Sanders celebrated the news on X, formerly Twitter, writing that she was “unbelievably proud” that Trump “nominated my dad” as ambassador.
“I went to Israel for the first time with my dad when I was eleven and it changed my life,” she said. “There is no one President Trump could have picked with a greater love for the Israeli people and commitment to the unbreakable bond between America and Israel than him. Love you dad!”
Members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation weighed in as well.
“Congratulations to former Governor Mike Huckabee on his selection as U.S. Ambassador to Israel,” U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, said in a written statement Tuesday. “Mike is a dear friend who deeply understands the importance of our relationship with the Jewish State. He will work tirelessly to protect and strengthen that bond.”
Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman said in a written statement Tuesday, “The decision to appoint Former Governor Mike Huckabee as the U.S. Ambassador to Israel is a fantastic first step made by President-elect Trump in supporting the nation of Israel.”
Republican U.S. Rep. French Hill said in a Tuesday X post that “my longtime friend @GovMikeHuckabee is an outstanding choice for US Ambassador to Israel. He was a terrific Governor of Arkansas and will continue his public service in working to ensure peace in the region.”
“Congratulations to Governor Mike Huckabee, U.S. Ambassador-designee to Israel. President Trump could not have made a better choice,” U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford said in a written statement. “This appointment speaks to the exceptional leadership found within the great state of Arkansas, and I have no doubt that Governor Huckabee will further strengthen the bond between our two nations,” he said.
Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Womack said on X, “I’m excited that @realDonaldTrump has nominated my friend @GovMikeHuckabee as the U.S. Ambassador to Israel! Fantastic choice by President Trump. Mike was an effective governor for the great state of Arkansas and will serve our nation well by working to support America’s greatest ally in the Middle East. His support for Israel is impeccable. Congratulations, @GovMikeHuckabee!”
Certain other observers were less sanguine.
The anti-war group Little Rock Peace for Palestine said in a news release Tuesday that, “We know personally as Arkansans that Huckabee’s appointment will further fuel divisive policies that harm both Palestinians and Israelis.”
Huckabee “has explicitly refused to acknowledge Palestinian’s right to self-determination, right to return, or any equality under the law. Any effort towards a peace process between the Israeli and Palestinian people will be near impossible under a Trump presidency and Huckabee appointment,” it said.
It went on to say that Huckabee supports “settlement expansion in the West Bank which is illegal under international law according to the Fourth Geneva Convention.”
A representative from the Jewish Federation of Arkansas declined to comment.
Joey Garrison contributed to the reporting of this story.
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Publish date : 2024-11-12 10:23:00
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