NYT Report Alleges Huckabee Aide Suppressed Sensitive Information

A New York Times investigation, citing 15 officials and internal documents, claims that a senior advisor to Ambassador Mike Huckabee, identified as Milstein, allegedly buried and rewrote sensitive reports to Washington. The purpose, according to the report, was to present the Netanyahu government in a more favorable light.

Milstein, 36, is accused of filtering critical information about Israeli actions, preventing the White House and State Department from receiving an accurate assessment of the situation on the ground. For instance, during a significant rise in settler violence in the spring, the embassy reportedly intended to inform Washington that the Israeli government was ignoring the problem. Instead, Milstein allegedly sent a cable praising Israel for taking a "strong hand" against the attacks.

Similarly, when a law was passed in February to ease land purchases in the West Bank, Milstein allegedly ensured the official report framed it as a domestic matter addressing humanitarian needs of settlers, disregarding international implications. He also reportedly delayed a report, leading to a weak letter to Congress stating only that the embassy was working with Israel to ensure due process.

In Gaza during the summer of 2025, Milstein allegedly rewrote a cable warning of mass deaths near food distribution points, transforming it into a declaration of the humanitarian organization's "great success." Despite growing frustration in Washington, with some White House officials bypassing official channels, Ambassador Huckabee has reportedly fully backed Milstein. Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Kurtzer told The New York Times that withholding information undermines the President's policy.