US Senator Chris Van Hollen called on Israeli Ambassador Mike Huckabee to resign. Van Hollen argued that Huckabee had failed to fulfill his responsibility to protect US interests and American citizens in the region.
The senator made the call in a video message posted on X on Monday. Van Hollen accused Huckabee of being excessively lenient toward the Israeli government and said the ambassador should defend US interests.
Reaction to the “Greater Israel” remarks
Van Hollen also addressed a conversation in which Huckabee was asked whether he would support Israel’s control of territory associated with the concept of “Greater Israel.” The senator criticized Huckabee, saying that the ambassador had stated that he considered it appropriate to take all of that territory.
The US senator also spoke about American citizens whom he said had been mistreated or unlawfully detained in the region. Van Hollen said that he and 30 other senators had previously asked Huckabee to hold the Israeli government accountable for the deaths of more than nine Americans over the past four years.
Christian villages in the West Bank
Van Hollen argued that although Huckabee had expressed concern for Christian communities, he had failed to protect Christians in the Holy Land. The senator said settler attacks on Christian villages in the West Bank had increased and that the attacks had gone unpunished.
Van Hollen said Huckabee had failed in his duty to defend American citizens and US interests, adding that the ambassador should resign.