Israel "Welcomes nomination of Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel"

The Israeli government welcomed U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as the U.S. ambassador to Israel.

Israeli government spokesman David Menser said on the 13th local time that he welcomed Huckabee, a frequent visitor to Israel, saying he had a special understanding of Israel, the Middle East, the path to peace and what was needed.

Former governor Huckabee is a former Baptist minister with no diplomatic experience and a pro-Israel figure who advocates for the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

"Huckabee is a good public servant, governor, leader of faith," Trump said in an earlier statement, explaining the reason for the Israeli ambassador's nomination, saying he would "work tirelessly to realize peace in the Middle East."