Senator Van Hollen urges Ambassador Huckabee to quit over Israel policy

Sen. Chris Van Hollen publicly demanded that Mike Huckabee, the United States ambassador to Israel, resign after repeatedly failing to condemn the Israeli government’s treatment of American citizens. Van Hollen highlighted recent detentions of 20-year-old Sama Safi and 16-year-old Adam Karakrah by Israeli security forces, and reminded that over two dozen senators have urged accountability for nine Americans killed in the past four years by settlers or the Israel Defense Forces.

He also pointed out a rise in violent attacks on Christian villages in the West Bank, which have gone unpunished, and mocked Huckabee’s claim that his Christian faith excuses his inaction. The Maryland Democrat argued that Huckabee’s focus on short-term visitors ignores the centuries-old Christian communities living in the region. Van Hollen accused the ambassador of becoming an apologist for what he called the most extreme Israeli government in history and said he should defend American interests or resign today.