Mike Huckabee, US Ambassador to Israel: ‘Hamas isn't interested in ending the war’

James Coomarasamy, presenter of the BBC’s Newshour and The World
Tonight, speaks to Mike Huckabee, US Ambassador to Israel.
Confirmed in the post two months ago, Mr Huckabee is the former
Republican Governor of Arkansas and two-time Republican
presidential nominee.


He’s an Evangelical Christian, who has backed the presence of
Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories, which are
considered illegal under international law - although Israel
rejects this.


Some opposition politicians in the US have been critical of his
appointment and previous statements he’s made about the ongoing
war in Gaza.


One Democratic senator said Huckabee was "woefully unfit" for the
role and accused him of engaging in "brazen denial of the
existence of the Palestinian people".


But during questioning by a US Senate committee, Huckabee played
down some of his past statements, saying he would "carry out the
president's priorities", not his, and denied backing the
expulsion of Palestinians.


He takes up the role amid growing international calls for a
ceasefire in Gaza and pressure for more humanitarian aid to reach
the territory. Despite a number of proposals put forward by the
international community, there does not yet appear to be a
realistic prospect of an end to the conflict. The Interview
brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all
over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen
on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or
you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on
BBC Sounds, or wherever you get your podcasts.


Presenter: James Coomarasamy Producer: Ben Cooper Editor: Nick
Holland


Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the
hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.


(Image: Mike Huckabee. Credit: John Taggart/Bloomberg/Getty
Images)