Key facts
- US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee attributes declining US support for Israel to "biblical illiteracy."
- Huckabee cited foreign propaganda, disinformation, and hatred of religious belief as reasons for the erosion of support.
- He dismissed claims of Israeli genocide and apartheid in Gaza.
- Recent polling indicates a decline in Republican support for Israel, particularly among younger Republicans.
- Huckabee, a former governor and ordained Baptist minister, believes God's promises to the Jewish people remain valid.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated that declining public support for Israel in the United States is a result of a lack of "biblical literacy," foreign propaganda, disinformation, and hostility toward people who believe in God. In an interview with NewsNation, Huckabee outlined what he called "three sources" for the erosion of support, including foreign propaganda, hatred of religious belief, and a lack of knowledge of the Bible.
Huckabee, who is also a former governor of Arkansas and an ordained Baptist minister, dismissed claims that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza or operates as an apartheid state. He suggested that Americans would hold a more favorable view of Israel if they "look at the truth."
Recent polling data supports Huckabee's concerns about waning support. A February Gallup poll indicated that while 69% of Republicans viewed Israel favorably, this represented a 15-point decline from 2025 and the lowest level in over two decades. Similarly, 70% sympathized more with Israelis than Palestinians, down 10 points from 2024 and the lowest since 2004. The decline is particularly pronounced among younger Republicans, with a Pew Research Center survey showing 57% of Republicans aged 18 to 49 holding an unfavorable opinion of Israel, up from 50% a year prior. An AP-NORC poll in July found that 60% of Republicans considered US support for Israel "about right," with only 15% stating the US was not supportive enough, a significant drop from 39% in 2024.
The narrative of Israeli genocide in Gaza, though unsubstantiated, has spread widely through social media. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) evaluated South Africa's genocide claim against Israel and, according to former ICJ President Joan Donoghue, did not find the claim plausible, only that Palestinians had a general right of protection under the Genocide Convention. Huckabee also refuted the notion that Christians are not welcomed in Israel, stating he worships freely there.