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US Ambassador Mike Huckabee has threatened to publicly accuse Israel of no longer welcoming Christian groups, citing visa denials for evangelical missions, in a sharp rebuke that exposes growing frictions with Netanyahu’s government.
Why it matters: This dispute risks alienating Israel’s evangelical Christian supporters in the US, who provide significant political and financial backing, while underscoring tensions in US-Israel relations amid broader policy disagreements.
Driving the news: In a leaked letter to Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, Huckabee accused Israel of harassing long-standing Christian Zionist organizations through investigations and visa delays since early 2025, warning of reciprocal US visa restrictions for Israelis and advising American Christians to reconsider travel and donations.
- Huckabee, a former evangelical pastor with deep ties to Israel, emphasized the issue’s personal importance, having led numerous Christian tours over decades.
- Arbel responded by defending his ministry’s efficiency and expressing surprise at Huckabee’s approach, urging mutual trust in their partnership.
Catch up quick: The row stems from a May meeting between Huckabee and Arbel on visa issues for Christian groups like the Baptist Conference in Israel. Despite Huckabee’s longstanding pro-Israel stance, recent bureaucratic hurdles have stalled applications, prompting his escalation.
The intrigue: This comes amid other incidents straining US-Israel relations, including settler violence and military actions affecting Christians.
- Huckabee called for an aggressive probe into the “terrorist murder” of 20-year-old Palestinian-American Saif Musallet, allegedly beaten to death by settlers in the West Bank village of Sinjil.
- Under pressure from President Trump, Netanyahu expressed regret over the mistaken shelling of Gaza’s Holy Family Church, which killed three civilians and injured the parish priest.
- The strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church drew international condemnation, with Israel conveying “deep sorrow” and investigating, while Pope Leo called for a ceasefire.
Between the lines: Netanyahu’s Likud-led government, emphasizing security-focused policies, could be testing alliances with key Christian backers vital to Israel’s standing in Washington, as delays in routine visas signal potential shifts in longstanding cooperative practices.
What they’re saying:
“Israel under Bibi has lost its mind: settlers killing Christian Americans… bombing Catholic churches in Gaza, and barring Christian visitors so even Huckabee is complaining,” Robert Barnes, trial lawyer, posted on X.
Israel under Bibi has lost its mind: settlers killing Christian Americans visiting family, bombing Catholic churches in Gaza, and barring Christian visitors so often even Huckabee is complaining, bombing Iran, Syria & Gaza while their advocates demand we ignore the #EpsteinFiles https://t.co/EU3Xx38yKN
— Robert Barnes (@barnes_law) July 18, 2025
“US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee threatened to publicly accuse Israel of discriminating against Christian groups, pointing to a deliberate pattern of denying tourist visas to evangelical missionaries,” AF Post reported on X.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee threatened to publicly accuse Israel of discriminating against Christian groups, pointing to a deliberate pattern of denying tourist visas to evangelical missionaries.
Interior Minister Moshe Arbel privately responded to Mike Huckabee’s… pic.twitter.com/QHdgTjcqm6
— AF Post (@AFpost) July 18, 2025
The bottom line: Huckabee’s threats mark a notable strain in US-Israel ties under Netanyahu’s leadership, prompting questions about balancing security concerns with maintaining support from Christian allies abroad.
