U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee posted a long statement on X from Mark Zell, chairman of the Republican Party in Israel, and wrote, “I could not have said it better myself.” The post came amid Israeli debate over President Donald Trump’s policy toward Iran and Israel.
In the quoted remarks, Zell argued that Trump “did not change course or abandon Israel,” saying his support for the Jewish state and the Jewish people remains “unassailable.” He said Trump made a strategic decision to focus on the November midterm elections, fearing a Democratic congressional victory could bring impeachment efforts and paralyze his agenda. Zell added that American voters “vote with their pockets,” and that because they are weary of wars, Trump needs to pause the war with Iran for now to improve his chances in the midterms.
Zell said Trump is aiming to lower inflation, cut energy and food prices, keep stock markets strong, and stabilize global markets. He called those the current American interests and said he agreed with that view.
A central point in Zell’s explanation was that Israel was left outside the deal, which, he said, gives it “free rein” to protect its essential security interests in Lebanon, Syria and even Iran, whether by design or by default. He described the agreement as only an understanding to negotiate and maintain a ceasefire for now, and said Trump still has “all the cards” and can decide how much to ease American pressure on Iran and its proxies.
Zell said he does not like the agreement’s content or the tone of some White House statements defending it, but called it “politics in an election year.” He concluded that U.S.-Israel ties remain “strong and unbreakable,” and that both countries will protect their own interests, including the 750,000 U.S. citizens in Israel. Huckabee offered no additional comment beyond sharing the passage, and Zell ended by saying, “This is the only explanation that makes sense.”
