In a formal ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Monday, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee officially presented his credentials to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, joining six other new ambassadors in assuming their diplomatic roles. The event comes as the US and Iran engage in renewed nuclear negotiations and as Israel seeks stronger international backing in its ongoing conflict with Hamas and broader regional threats.
Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas and an ordained Baptist minister, was appointed by US President Donald Trump earlier this year and confirmed by the US Senate this month. Speaking at the ceremony, Huckabee affirmed his deep personal and political commitment to Israel.
“This is a sacred honor,” he said. “I am here with the mission to stand with the people of Israel for peace and prosperity … not simply as a geopolitical position, but a divine position.”
President Herzog welcomed Huckabee with unusually warm language, telling him, “Welcome home, dear brother of Israel,” and comparing him to the biblical Abraham. Referring to the hostages still held in Gaza, Herzog said, “We share our heartbreak and our absolute resolve to see every last hostage freed from the Hamas dungeons and returned to their loved ones. Immediately. Every last one.”
Huckabee responded by pledging continued pressure on Hamas and emphasizing the strategic importance of the US-Israel relationship. “We care deeply, Mr. President, about the threats that face Israel, because those are also the threats that face our country,” he said. “Israel is the appetizer and the United States is the entrée” for Iran’s ambitions, he added.
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The ambassador also addressed the Iranian nuclear threat, aligning himself with Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy and asserting that sanctions were preferable to war. “It is better to bankrupt them than it is to bomb them,” Huckabee said during recent Senate hearings.
Huckabee was joined at the ceremony by influential philanthropist Dr. Miriam Adelson. The event, organized by Israel’s Government Press Office, was broadcast live and followed the traditional diplomatic protocol, including the raising of flags, the playing of national anthems, and private meetings with the president.
President Herzog also accepted the credentials of six other ambassadors: Leslie Scanlon of Canada, Jitender Pal Singh of India, Olivio A. Fermin of the Dominican Republic, Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau of the Philippines, Yury Yaroshevich of Belarus, and Nelson Manuel Cosme of Angola.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog (L) receives the credentials of Canadian Ambassador Leslie Scanlon at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, April 21, 2025. (Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO)
In his remarks to Canadian Ambassador Leslie Scanlon, Herzog acknowledged the strong ties between Israel and Canada, highlighting both nations’ shared values and commitment to Jewish communities in the diaspora. He thanked Scanlon for Canada’s public calls for the release of the hostages held in Gaza.
To Indian Ambassador Jitender Pal Singh, Herzog emphasized the growing geostrategic partnership between the two countries. “We have to work together on the geostrategic issues: getting the hostages back home, preventing Iran from spreading terror, and moving toward peace, inclusion, and connectivity,” he said.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog (L) receives the credentials of Indian Ambassador Jitender Pal Singh at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, April 21, 2025. (Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO)
Herzog also welcomed Dominican Ambassador Olivio A. Fermin, praising student exchange programs and joint efforts in water and agricultural technology. With Philippine Ambassador Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau, Herzog expressed condolences over the death of Pope Francis and thanked her country for its strong support of Israel. The ambassador noted that her outfit was handmade by women artisans using natural fibers.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog (L) receives the credentials of Philippine Ambassador Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, April 21, 2025. (Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO)
With Belarusian Ambassador Yury Yaroshevich, Herzog reflected on Belarus’s rich Jewish heritage and the country’s historical ties to Zionist leaders. Finally, he welcomed Angolan Ambassador Nelson Manuel Cosme and emphasized growing cooperation in agriculture and water management.
Throughout all the meetings, Herzog stressed the urgent need for international cooperation to secure the release of the hostages still held in Gaza. “Nothing is more urgent,” he said.