Latest news with #Huckabee
The Hill
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Huckabee: ‘No break' between Trump, Netanyahu on Gaza aid
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee rejected the idea that there's any 'break' between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the issue of humanitarian aid to Gaza. 'That's about as realistic as saying that I was personally responsible for the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby,' Huckabee said in a Tuesday interview on Fox News's 'America's Newsroom,' when asked about the 'legacy media narrative' about a 'break' between the leaders. 'Let me assure you that there is no break between the Prime Minister of Israel and the president. Their relationship I think to be stronger than it's ever been. And I think the relationship between the U.S. and Israel is as strong as it has ever been,' he continued, pointing to the U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear sites last month. Huckabee blamed the media's coverage of the humanitarian situation unfolding in Gaza, saying some of the viral photos of emaciated Palestinian children have turned out to be from years ago and to be depicting children with cerebral palsy or other diseases unrelated to starvation. 'So no, there's not a break between them. The disconnect is with the media, who wants there to be an anti-Israel message that they keep getting across, but it's a false message,' he said. Huckabee said that while the situation in Gaza is a 'mess' right now, it's not as dire as television coverage often makes it seem. He also criticized the world for blaming Israel for the mass starvation in Gaza, saying Hamas could end the crisis immediately by agreeing to end the war. 'So is there suffering? Yes. Is it as bad as some of the Europeans say it is? No, but it could be a whole lot better. It could all be over quickly, if Hamas would finally decide there's no future for them there, which is exactly what the president keeps saying,' Huckabee said. Trump told reporters on Monday that he does 'not particularly' agree with Netanyahu's claim that there is no starvation happening in Gaza, but he has largely stopped short of outright criticizing Israel for its role in preventing aid from getting to Palestinians. 'I mean, based on television, I would say not particularly because those children look very hungry,' Trump told reporters when asked about Netanyahu's claim.
Middle East Eye
a day ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israeli settlers repeat attack on Palestinian Christian village in occupied West Bank
Israeli settlers have launched an attack on the Christian village of Taybeh, east of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. The incursion began at dawn on Monday. They set fire to two cars owned by Palestinian residents and spray painted racist graffiti on walls in the village. 'You'll regret it later,' read one message, not clarifying what the villagers had done to earn the settlers' wrath. Once the settlers left, the Israeli military raided the village spreading further panic among residents. The campaign of settler intimidation, with Israeli army backing, coincides with the establishment of a new Israeli settlement near Taybeh in June. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Monday's attack is the second on this small Palestinian village in as many weeks. Just a fortnight earlier on 14 July, settlers set the village's historic Church of Saint George alight, along with its adjoining graveyard. That attack was severe enough to prompt rare condemnation of Israeli settlers by the American ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. 'It's my desire to do everything possible to let the people of this peaceful village know that we will certainly insist that those who carry out acts of terror and violence in Taybeh - or anywhere - be found and be prosecuted,' he said. Living in danger 'When I saw them, I started screaming loudly,' said Taybeh resident Farid Kawneh about the latest settler attack. He told Middle East Eye that his neighbour called him just after 2am to tell him that his car was on fire. His initial thought was that the cause was a technical fault with the car but as Kawneh rushed towards it, he found a group of settlers speaking to each other in Hebrew. "They were surprised by me and ran towards the Khalleh area,' he said. 'At the sound of my shouting, a number of villagers arrived at the scene.' The earlier attack on the Church of Saint George had drawn international condemnation and visits to the village by senior Christian figures, as well as Huckabee. Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III during a visit of solidarity to Taybeh on 14 July (AFP/Zain Jaafar) Harsh condemnation, even by a normally committed Christian Zionist like Huckabee, was not enough to deter further settler violence. Taybeh resident Kamal Taye also had his car set alight by the settlers. He told Middle East Eye that the village's residents felt a sense of abandonment and were living without a sense of safety. 'No one is capable of protecting us in our homeland' - Kamal Taye, resident of Taybeh "My family and I were scared because our lives were in danger," he said. He added: "My elderly mother lives with me in the house, and she was terrified. There are no elements of safety in this country under the current circumstances." Taye explained that the psychological impact of the attacks far outweighed the immediate material damage to their homes and property, as they had no idea what the settlers would do next. "No one is capable of protecting us in our homeland. We are forced to protect ourselves," Taye said. "I demand that state officials assume their responsibility to protect us and make us feel safe in our homes." Settler intimidation Taybeh is an ancient village, believed to have its origins during the Canaanite period more than 3,000 years ago. It has a predominantly Christian population of 1,340, according to the 2017 census conducted by the Palestine Central Bureau of Statistics. The area boasts abundant pastoral land and the village's residents primarily make their living raising sheep. But that abdundance has drawn the attention of settlers who have encroached on the village's territory with the backing of the Israeli military. Israeli settlers beat Palestinian-American to death, fatally shoot another Read More » Israel initially appropriated huge tracts of land surrounding the village for the construction of roads and the settlers soon followed. Small bands of settlers, known as the "Youths of the Hills" have set up outposts in the land surrounding Taybeh. These outposts include "agricultural barracks", which Palestinians cannot approach, restricting their ability to graze their animals freely. Through a mixture of intimidation of Palestinian shepherds and protection by the Israeli military, the settlers then use Taybeh's land to graze their own animals. Palestinian farmers and shepherds are subjected to other forms of routine harassment, including the burning of trees, the theft of tools, the demolition of homes and pastures, the arrest of shepherds, and the imposition of heavy fines by the Israeli authorities. The Israeli humans rights group B'Tselem and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have documented more than 1,200 incidents of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in 2024 alone, an average of three attacks per day, according to an OCHA report issued in December 2024.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee slams UN, NYT over Gaza aid chaos
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Sunday blamed the United Nations, The New York Times and Hamas for what he described as the 'complete balagan' (Hebrew for chaos) surrounding the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza. 'Are the UN, NY Times, and Hamas all happy now? I'm sure Hamas is,' Huckabee wrote on X. 'Their lies and propaganda destroyed the cease-fire deal, tried to discredit the safe and functioning GHF effort, emboldened Hamas, and resulted in this complete balagan! Saddest of all, hostage families are left with prolonged grief.' Advertisement Huckabee's comments tap into growing frustration among Israeli officials, who claim that accusations targeting Israel and the American Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) endanger ongoing aid efforts and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. 6 Humanitarian aid is airdropped to Palestinians over Gaza City. AP 6 People walk with sacks of flour delivered after trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered northern Gaza on July 27. AFP via Getty Images The debate intensified as social media footage and commentary circulated showing U.N.-led aid convoys exposing civilians to danger, while American-managed distribution centers reportedly remained secure. Advertisement Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir amplified the criticism, declaring, 'The 'humanitarian' aid equals sustaining the enemy. Prime minister, stop spitting in the face of our fighters!' The Israel Defense Forces released detailed statements and videos on Sunday defending their coordination of aid. 'Israel is not blocking humanitarian aid. We are facilitating its entry every single day,' said IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, speaking from the Kerem Shalom Crossing. He cited the transfer of over 250 trucks of aid into Gaza during the past week, and described new airdrops and 'humanitarian pauses' established to allow aid into both northern and southern Gaza. Military authorities also emphasized ongoing cooperation with the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, adding that 28 airdropped packages were delivered on Sunday alone to 'refute the false claims of deliberate starvation in Gaza.' 6 John Ratcliffe and Mike Huckabee at a White House dinner. AL DRAGO/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock Advertisement 6 Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir amplified the criticism, declaring, 'The 'humanitarian' aid equals sustaining the enemy. MOHAMMED SABER/EPA/Shutterstock More than 120 aid trucks were collected and distributed across Gaza on Sunday by the U.N. and international relief groups, according to a Monday update from COGAT, Israel's military body responsible for coordinating humanitarian needs in the region. COGAT reported that an additional 180 trucks entered Gaza on Sunday and were awaiting collection for distribution, joining hundreds more that remain in queues for U.N. pickup. The agency emphasized that sustained and efficient collection efforts by U.N. agencies and aid organizations are crucial for increasing the flow of life-saving assistance to those most in need in Gaza. Meanwhile, the GHF distributed more than 20,000 food aid boxes at three sites, along with new pilot shipments of fresh vegetables. Visiting Kerem Shalom on Sunday, GHF interim executive director John Acree praised the dedication of aid teams and urged all organizations to 'help the people of Gaza or make way for those who will,' insisting that this was no time for 'politics with people's lives.' Advertisement GHF claims nearly 95 million meals have been distributed to date. According to reports, operations on Sunday proceeded smoothly with robust security at all distribution centers. 6 People carrying sacks of flour, humanitarian aid in Gaza. AFP via Getty Images 6 More than 120 aid trucks were collected and distributed across Gaza on Sunday by the U.N. and international relief groups, according to a Monday update from COGAT. AFP via Getty Images Yisrael Beitenu lawmaker Evgeny Sova told JNS on Sunday that Israel should make clear to the United States, Qatar, Egypt and European countries that it seeks to end the war soon and hand over responsibility for Gaza to them. 'The meaning of the move is that Israel will not allow its territory to be used to deliver any aid. Israel will not provide anything to the Strip, and will maintain freedom of military action even after the conflict ends,' he said. 'If they feel responsible for the Gazans, then the pressure must be on Hamas and not on Israel,' he continued. 'The IDF is hardly maneuvering in the Strip—it's carrying out policing missions—while the enemy continues to receive all the aid it needs. This is absurd.'
Middle East Eye
3 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
US envoy blames UN, media and Hamas for Gaza chaos and failed truce
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has accused the United Nations, The New York Times, and Hamas of spreading 'lies and propaganda' to undermine aid operations and destabilise Gaza. Huckabee, a staunch supporter of Israel and an evangelical preacher, made the remarks in response to footage showing desperate Palestinians climbing onto an aid truck. 'Is the UN, NY Times, and Hamas all happy now?' he asked in a social media post. 'I'm sure Hamas is. Their lies and propaganda destroyed the ceasefire deal, tried to discredit safe and functioning GHF effort, emboldened Hamas and will result in this complete balagan [chaos]! Most sad for hostage families—grief prolonged.' His comments come as international experts continue to blame Israel's near-total blockade of food and supplies for the collapse of civil order and widespread hunger in Gaza.
Spectator
5 days ago
- Business
- Spectator
Why one US diplomat thinks Ireland has ‘fallen into a vat of Guinness'
US diplomat Mike Huckabee was dead right to question whether Ireland had 'fallen into a vat of Guinness.' Huckabee, the United States ambassador to Israel, played into stereotypical tropes on the Irish and alcohol when he made that comment last week. But it is, he reckoned, the only possible explanation for Ireland's looming ban on Israeli settlement goods, despite ominous soundings from the US over the potentially ruinous consequences. This bill is so stupid it amounts to 'diplomatic intoxication', he concluded. To answer his question, Ireland is not drunk. More's the pity. It is preparing to commit economic suicide while cold stone sober, just to tighten the screws on Israel. Huckabee's remarks, which point to a deepening rift between Dublin and Washington, have certainly focused minds in the US. Twelve prominent US politicians and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations have now warned Ireland of the economic and diplomatic fallout of the Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill (PIGS). This row is gaining traction on Capitol Hill and ensuring Ireland is making global headlines – for all the wrong reasons. International law expert Eugene Kontorovich explained in the Wall Street Journal how banning trade with Israeli settlements could force American companies operating in Ireland to violate US federal law on illegal Israeli boycotts. 'Dublin seeks to take the place of Damascus as the centre of Israeli boycotts. But Syria was an economic backwater. Ireland has a lot more to lose,' he said. When it was first introduced in 2018, what was then the 'Occupied Territories Bill,' quickly sparked a backlash. Former US Ambassador to Ireland, Dan Mulhall, said he was deluged with calls asking, 'What is Ireland at?' Riddled with legal problems from the start, it was left to wither on the vine. That was until October 2023, when pro-Palestinian/anti-Israeli groups thought it the perfect time to resurrect it and ramp up the pressure. They were pushing against an open door with foreign affairs minister Simon Harris. Instead of sending them packing, he caved in and re-introduced the ban on trading with settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank under a new name. It isn't clear that this is what Irish voters actually want. The general nervousness about the blowback from Ireland's largest export market, the US, was reflected in a recent national opinion poll in Ireland: 48 per cent want the bill dropped altogether or paused until the economic consequences are fully examined, with a further 17 per cent undecided. Harris and Taoiseach Micheal Martin face a stark choice; drop the bill and be crucified by the hard left and hostile anti-Israeli NGOs. Or continue to push it and hope Ireland's economy doesn't sink if US multinationals quit, leaving 370,000 job losses in their wake. Martin must know all too well that the Irish economy is artificially propped up by billions in revenue from US tech giants. Last November, Martin said Ireland could lose €10 billion (£8.7 billion) in corporation tax if just three US multinationals were repatriated under a hostile Donald Trump administration. The context then was Trump's tariffs, but it underlined the scale of Ireland's dependency on US multinationals. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council reported that foreign-owned multinationals – the majority US-owned – contributed 84 per cent of the total corporation tax revenue in 2023. This swelled Ireland's coffers by €20 billion (£17.36 billion), roughly equating to the combined spending on hospitals and schools in that year. As one US senator put it: 'If Ireland wanted to end foreign direct investment into Ireland, it could not have chosen a better way to do it.' Former justice minister Alan Shatter labelled the bill a 'Father Ted' measure reminiscent of the comedy set on a craggy island off Ireland's west coast – something Ireland's Taoiseach took great umbrage at. The Taoiseach was asked directly if the government had sought legal opinion on the position of US multinationals if this bill is enacted. We are none the wiser. Irish business leaders are not so coy; they say the consequences for Ireland are real and significant. Ireland is not up against the might of Israel on this, but that of the US. And that is before we get to the added risk of infringing EU law by imposing a unilateral trade ban, as UK international law expert Natasha Hausdorff told the Dail pre legislative hearings in painstaking detail earlier this month. The glazed eyes of the assembled politicians and the blustering, emotive, responses made for depressing viewing. Whatever one thinks about the moral argument, this bill is a massive overreach that will not save a single life in Gaza. Yet the entire Irish political establishment is ideologically wedded to it. Junior foreign affairs minister Thomas Byrne let the cat out of the bag last week when asked by Ireland's national broadcaster, RTE, if he was concerned about the potential cost to Ireland. 'Of course,' he replied, but I am more concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.' Martin also offered some insight into the government's mindset by saying he wanted the bill passed while ensuring Ireland's economy did not suffer 'unduly.' Which presupposes there will be some suffering, it's just a question of degree. Should the worst happen, and tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of Irish workers lose their jobs if US multinationals shut up shop, well, they can take comfort knowing Ireland 'did the right thing' as they make their way to the dole queue. Unless, as Ambassador Huckabee suggests, Ireland 'sobers up' before it is too late.
