U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee issued a scathing rebuke of Israel’s interior ministry over continued delays and restrictions on visas for Christian organizations, particularly Evangelical groups. In a strongly worded letter leaked Thursday, Huckabee expressed “profound disappointment” and warned of potential reciprocal U.S. visa restrictions on Israeli citizens if the matter is not resolved.
Spent most of week in DC for historic meetings w/ @POTUS & @IsraeliPM but 2x I became target of pro-Hamas crazies. Ignorance is NOT bliss as these mobs yelled, told me Hamas didn't murder or rape and that I was the devil & will burn in hell. Other than that, they seemed nice.
— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) July 12, 2025
Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, responded with surprise, claiming he was unaware of the specific cases raised and promising to address them. Huckabee cited new 2025 investigations targeting longstanding allies like the Baptist Conference and Christian Missionary Alliance, describing bureaucratic harassment and religious scrutiny.
“If the Israeli government continues its bureaucratic harassment,” Huckabee wrote, “I will have no choice but to instruct our consular department to consider reciprocal actions.”
The clash marks a rare public rift between the U.S. and Israel over treatment of Christian groups — particularly significant given the longstanding alliance between Israel and the American Evangelical community.
