US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has sparked controversy after declaring that the United States owes its existence to Israel, a claim that stands in stark contrast to recent remarks by President Donald Trump, who said the opposite.
Speaking in Israel, Huckabee said: “Without the Jewish foundation, there would not be an America” and added that Americans “owe our very existence to what happened in this land”.
The comments came as Trump has publicly criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and emphasised the extent of US support for Israel.
Sharp contrast
Huckabee’s assertions directly contradict President Donald Trump, who recently said total credit for Israel’s ongoing survival.
Speaking at the annual G7 summit in France, Trump delivered a sharp public dressing-down of Israeli leadership.
“Without the US, there would be no Israel. Without me, there would be no Israel because no other President was willing to do what I did,” Trump said.
The internal tension comes as Trump attempts to finalise a landmark peace deal with Tehran ahead of a scheduled Friday signing ceremony in Geneva.
Trump has openly lashed out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling his judgment “crazy” and criticising recent Israeli military escalation in Lebanon that risk sabotaging the Washington-Tehran negotiations.
