Former Arkansas Gov. Huckabee tapped to be Israeli ambassador

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, 69, has been picked by President-elect Donald Trump to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is the father of Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders, who was a press secretary in Trump’s first presidential term.

Huckabee, a former Baptist preacher, was elected as Arkansas’ lieutenant governor in 1993. He would rise to governor in 1996 after then-Gov. Jim Guy Tucker was convicted of felony fraud that arose from the Whitewater investigation. Huckabee was elected to two terms as governor, and left office in January 2007.

He also a candidate in the GOP presidential primary in 2008 and 2016 but was unsuccessful with each bid. He more recently has been host of a show on the Fox News channel.

“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!” Trump said in a statement.

The appointment is subject to U.S. Senate approval, although Trump has asked for “recess appointments” that essentially circumvent the traditional Senate consent process.

A representative of the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nentanyahu praised Trump’s selection of Huckabee.

“I look forward to working with you to strengthen the bond between our peoples,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on X. “As a longstanding friend of Israel and our eternal capital Jerusalem – I hope you will feel very much at home.”

Jack Lew is the U.S. Ambassador to Israel under President Joe Biden.