Mike Huckabee in the news: as US ambassador to Israel in 2025, he’s tied to Shabbos-style diplomacy amid Middle East tensions. Bio: former Arkansas governor, Republican, Baptist minister.
On February 27, 2026, the US Embassy in Jerusalem began providing passport services in Efrat, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, marking the first time consular services were offered in an Israeli settlement. The move has sparked controversy, with Israeli officials welcoming it as legitimizing settlements, while Palestinians and international actors condemn it as violating international law.
Recent interviews with US ambassador Huckabee and Israeli politicians have reignited debates over Israel's territorial ambitions, with discussions referencing biblical promises and controversial theories about Jewish ancestry, including the Khazar hypothesis. The discourse has sparked regional condemnation and questions about US support for expansionist views.
Western countries including the UK, US, France, and Germany have issued travel advisories and evacuated embassy staff from Israel and Iran due to escalating regional tensions. The US has increased military presence, and diplomatic talks are ongoing to prevent conflict amid fears of escalation following Iran's stalled nuclear negotiations.
President Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Iran's nuclear negotiations, citing ongoing disagreements and the potential for military force. Talks in Geneva ended without agreement, and the US has positioned military forces in the region amid rising tensions and warnings of possible strikes.
The US and Israel launched extensive airstrikes across Iran, targeting regime leadership and military sites, including the Supreme Leader's compound. Iran responded with retaliatory attacks. The operation aims to weaken Iran's military and political capabilities amid ongoing tensions over its nuclear program.
The US and Israel have launched a coordinated military campaign, Operation Epic Fury, targeting Iran's leadership and military infrastructure. Over the past week, multiple strikes have hit Tehran and other cities, killing Iran's Supreme Leader and causing regional retaliation. The conflict is ongoing, with significant military and economic costs.
As of March 12, 2026, the US State Department has evacuated approximately 47,000 American citizens from 14 Middle Eastern countries amid escalating conflict involving Iran and Israel. The department has chartered flights and provided travel assistance, though many Americans remain stranded due to widespread airspace closures and limited commercial flights. US embassies face ongoing security threats, including drone attacks.
On Palm Sunday 2026, Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Father Francesco Ielpo from entering Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, citing security concerns due to ongoing conflict with Iran. This marked the first such restriction in centuries, sparking international criticism and diplomatic protests over religious freedom during Holy Week.
Since early April 2026, Jerusalem's Old City holy sites, including Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, have reopened after a six-week closure due to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has repeatedly entered Al-Aqsa, performing Jewish prayers forbidden under the Status Quo, sparking Palestinian and Jordanian condemnation. Restrictions on Muslim worshippers and settler incursions continue, raising fears of escalating tensions and changes to the site's religious status.
Lebanon and Israel have held their first direct talks in over 30 years in Washington, mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The discussions focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing long-term security, despite ongoing Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah's intensified attacks on northern Israel. Lebanon demands a ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal, while Israel insists on Hezbollah's disarmament and rejects a ceasefire.
An Israeli soldier has damaged a Christian statue of Jesus on the cross in Debel, a Christian village in southern Lebanon under Israeli occupation. The Israeli military has condemned the act as a moral failure, launched an investigation, and replaced the statue. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, have apologized and promised disciplinary action amid ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.
A photo of an IDF soldier smashing a Jesus statue in Lebanon has sparked international outrage. Israeli officials condemn the act, but it highlights ongoing tensions over Israel's conduct in the region and its treatment of Christian communities. The incident prompts criticism from European leaders and US allies.
The Israeli military has identified one soldier who damaged a Christian statue and another who photographed the act in Debel, Lebanon. Six additional soldiers were present and did not intervene. Both offenders face removal from combat duty and 30 days in military detention. The military is replacing the statue and reinforcing conduct rules with troops in the area.
Trump has hosted Israel's ambassador and Lebanon's ambassador for a second round of U.S.-facilitated talks in the White House, days after Israeli strikes killed a journalist and amid a renewed ceasefire extension. The discussions focus on Hezbollah, security arrangements in southern Lebanon, and potential steps toward peace while highlighting continuing regional tensions.
The UAE, Kuwait and other Gulf states have been involved in the Iran conflict through reported strikes and counter-moves. Reports indicate the UAE may have carried out operations against Iran, including a refinery attack on Lavan Island, as the ceasefire holds but regional tensions rise.
Israel’s prime minister has said he has made a secret March 26 trip to Al‑Ain to meet UAE president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and has called it a “historic breakthrough.” The UAE has denied the visit. Multiple outlets have reported broader Israel–UAE defence cooperation during the Iran war, including Iron Dome batteries and alleged intelligence coordination.
Lebanon and Israel are engaging in Washington talks as a three-week ceasefire extends, with negotiators seeking to end violence and secure Lebanese sovereignty while Hezbollah remains a central hurdle. The talks are the third round and aim to map a framework for a future peace and Hezbollah disarmament, amid ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon.