US senator says Huckabee must quit over support for Israeli government

US Senator Chris Van Hollen has called on US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to resign, accusing him of failing to protect American interests and becoming an “apologist” for the Israeli government.

“It’s time for our American ambassador in Israel, Mike Huckabee, to resign. The job of an American ambassador is to defend and protect the interests of the United States of America. Ambassador Huckabee has failed to do that,” Van Hollen said on Monday.

“He’s become an apologist for the extremist government in Israel,” he added in a video message on X.

Van Hollen criticised Huckabee over remarks in which the ambassador was asked whether he would support Israel taking control of territory included in the concept of “Greater Israel.”

According to Van Hollen, Huckabee responded that “it would be fine if they took it all.”

The senator also accused Huckabee of failing to protect American citizens in the region, citing cases in which Americans have allegedly been mistreated or wrongfully detained.