US Ambassador Mike Huckabee Calls Jewish Attackers Terrorists

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee reiterated his condemnation of perpetrators of hate crimes in Judea and Samaria, labeling them "terrorists" and stating their actions cause serious damage to Israel's image in the United States. "It hurts the image of Israel as a nation and as a people. And I find it regrettable because right now Israel needs all the friends it can get, it doesn't need more enemies," Huckabee said in an interview on Kan News. This follows his previous statement last month where he described Jewish rioters who besieged Palestinian residents in the village of Qusra as "Israeli terrorists."

In response to Huckabee's remarks, Israelis who set fire to a mosque in the village of Zaria in Samaria earlier this week spray-painted graffiti reading "Huckabee, greetings from the terrorists." The ambassador stated he was not personally alarmed by the graffiti but considered it a serious matter, emphasizing the deep harm inflicted upon Israel, including among Republicans in the U.S. He expressed concern that if young Americans primarily hear about such incidents, it could negatively shape their perception of Israel.

Regarding the ongoing confrontation with Iran, Huckabee described the situation as difficult to predict but noted Iran's significantly weakened military and economic standing. He attributed this to the President's actions, both militarily and economically, stating that while Iran may project strength, its actual condition is dire. Huckabee dismissed claims that President Trump is delaying action on Iran's nuclear program, focusing instead on the Strait of Hormuz issue. He asserted that the President has never indicated a willingness to overlook Iran's long-standing threat to the U.S., which he characterized as a 47-and-a-half-year threat to bring death to America.