65+ Progressive, Faith, Human Rights Groups Urge Senate to Reject Mike Huckabee's Nomination for Ambassador to Israel
March 24, 2025
Senator John Thune
Majority Leader
United States Senate
511 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Chuck Schumer
Minority Leader
United States Senate
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Senator James Risch
Chairman
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
423 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Ranking Member
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
423 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Leaders Thune and Schumer, Chairman Risch, and Ranking Member Shaheen,
We write to express strong opposition to the nomination of Mike Huckabee as Ambassador to Israel. Mr. Huckabee is unfit to serve in this critical diplomatic role given his record of anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian, and anti-semitic beliefs and rhetoric, his support for illegal settlements and annexation, as well as his extreme views supporting the Israeli government’s genocide of Palestinians. His record shows that he will continue to be a threat to the Palestinian people, Muslims, Jews, and marginalized communities, and would harm any work toward building a future of lasting peace rooted in freedom and justice.
Mr. Huckabee has consistently engaged in inflammatory and discriminatory statements that demonize Palestinians and Muslims. During a 2008 campaign stop, Huckabee stated, “there’s really no such thing as a Palestinian…You have Arabs and Persians, and there’s such complexity in that. But there’s really no such thing.” He has further stated that “there’s no such thing as an occupation,” that the West Bank belongs to Israel, claiming that “the title deed was given by God to Abraham and to his heirs.” Huckabee’s repeated denial of Palestine’s existence and assertion that Israel has full entitlement to all of the West Bank reflects an ideological bias and extremism that disregards the fundamental right to self determination of Palestinians and is out of step with the views of the overwhelming majority of Americans.
Mike Huckabee also has a long history of anti-Muslim rhetoric, characterized by inflammatory statements and discriminatory remarks that perpetuate harmful stereotypes and alienate Muslim communities. In August 2013, Huckabee called Islam “a religion that promotes the most murderous mayhem on the planet in their so-called ‘holiest days.’” Mike Huckabee’s Christian nationalist beliefs are also inherently a form of antisemitism, as it is predicated on the expulsion of Jews from the diaspora to the land of Palestine and the demonization of Palestinians and Muslims as enemies of God.
Huckabee’s blatant disregard for international human rights principles and inflammatory rhetoric undermine the values of inclusion and mutual respect that guide U.S. diplomacy. As Ambassador to Israel, Mr. Huckabee would play a key role in shaping U.S. policy in one of the world’s most complex and volatile regions. His appointment would send a dangerous signal that the United States does not respect international law, and endorses divisive and discriminatory policies that exacerbate tensions and undermine the prospects of a just and lasting peace.
Furthermore, Mr. Huckabee’s support for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s aggressive and expansionist policies only deepens concerns about his ability to serve as an impartial and fair representative of U.S. interests. His appointment would embolden those who oppose peace and fuel further division, rather than encouraging constructive dialogue and understanding.
At a time when the United States should strive to rebuild its credibility, appointing an individual with a history of extremist, apocalyptic, and hateful views to such a critical role would be a grave mistake.
We urge you to oppose Mike Huckabee’s nomination and advocate for a candidate who will represent the United States with integrity, respect international law, defend the human rights of all people, and a commitment to advancing a just and lasting peace.
Thank you,
99 Coalition
Al-Haq
Alliance of Baptists
American Baptist Palestine Justice Network
American Friends Service Committee
Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action)
A New Policy
Brooklyn For Peace
CAIR Action
Ceasefire Now NJ
Center for Jewish Nonviolence
CODEPINK
Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Demand Progress
Episcopal Peace Fellowship Palestine Israel Network
Faith In Texas
Fellowship of Reconciliation - USA
FOSNA Pittsburgh
Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
Hindus for Human Rights
Historians for Peace and Democracy
IfNotNow Movement
Indiana Center for Middle East Peace
Institute for Policy Studies New Internationalism Project
International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network
Jewish Voice for Peace Action
Just Foreign Policy
Justice Democrats
Justice in Palestine and Israel Community of the Alliance of Baptists
Malaya Kansas
McKean County Green Party
Minnesota Peace Project
MPower Change Action Fund
Muslim Counterpublics Lab
Muslim Legal Fund of America
Muslim Peace Fellowship
National Iranian American Council Action
New Jersey Friends of Sabeel North America
New Mexico Alliance for Justice in Palestine
NH Peace Action
NorCal Sabeel
Our Revolution
Palestine Justice Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Pax Christi USA
Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore
Pax Christi New Jersey
Pax Christi New York State
Peace Action
Peace Action Michigan
Peace, Justice, Sustainability NOW
Physicians for Humanity
Progressive Democrats Of America (PDA)
Progressive Democrats of America, Colorado
Progressive Democrats of America, Missouri
Progressive Democrats of America - Central New Mexico
ReThinking Foreign Policy
RootsAction.org
Showing Up For Racial Justice Bay Area
The Oakland Institute
Unitarian Universalist College of Social Justice
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR)
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action
Valley View Presbyterian Church
We Are All America
World BEYOND War
If your organization would like to join the letter, please email Yasmine Taeb at yasmine@mpowerchange.org.