The United States ambassador to Israel has revealed that Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state was met with deep disappointment [and even disgust] among senior members of the Trump administration. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee told ABC’s 7.30 program that he had discussed the decision directly with US president Donald Trump, describing the reaction in Washington as one of disbelief. “There’s an enormous level of disappointment and some disgust,” Huckabee said. “I don’t know that the president used that word, [but] I would say that is a characterisation of a sentimen

The United States ambassador to Israel has revealed that Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state was met with deep disappointment [and even disgust] among senior members of the Trump administration. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee told

ABC’s 7.30

program that he had discussed the decision directly with US president Donald Trump, describing the reaction in Washington as one of disbelief. “There’s an enormous level of disappointment and some disgust,” Huckabee said. “I don’t know that the president used that word, [but] I would say that is a characterisation of a sentiment. I think it does express the emotional sentiment, a sense of, ‘You’ve got to be kidding … why would they be doing this? And why would they be doing it now?’” Huckabee condemned the move as “terrible timing,” arguing that it would hurt any chance of negotiating a settlement in Gaza with Hamas. “This is a gift to them, and it’s unfortunate,” he said, adding that the decision could also endanger the remaining hostages held by the group. “For this to come at a time like this, further endangering them and endangering any hopes of some peaceful resolution of dealing with Hamas and getting them to lay down their arms,” he said. Australia’s recognition, announced ahead of a planned United Nations General Assembly vote in September, follows similar commitments from France, Canada and the United Kingdom. Huckabee, however, criticised Canberra for not consulting Washington. “As Israel’s closest partner, we would have expected that there would have been some heads up,” he said. Foreign Minister Penny Wong told

7.30

this week that she had spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the government’s intentions. “As a matter of courtesy, I did want to give him advance notice of our announcement,” she said. Earlier in the week, Wong warned there would be “no Palestine left” to recognise if the international community failed to act. Huckabee countered that such moves could backfire, potentially encouraging Israel to annex the West Bank. “What Australia and the other countries may have done inadvertently is push Israel to do exactly what they’re afraid of,” he said.

Mike Huckabee is the US Ambassador to Israel. (Scott Olson/Getty Images via ABC)

In July, the Israeli Knesset passed a non-binding motion calling for annexation, and on Thursday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to expand settlements outside Jerusalem. “Those who try to recognise a Palestinian state will receive from us an answer on the ground … and ensure that by September the hypocritical leaders in Europe will have nothing to recognise,” Smotrich said. Pressed on whether the Trump administration should have tried to influence Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza war, Huckabee defended Israel’s actions following Hamas’s October 7 attack. “I guess if we wanted to tell them what to do we would, but we respect the fact they were attacked on October 7. I’m so tired of people blaming Israel for defending themselves,” he said. The comments come amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The territory’s Health Ministry said Wednesday that 235 people, including 106 children, have died from hunger-related causes since the war began in October 2023. Asked about Trump’s recent expression of discomfort at images of malnourished children, Huckabee said the president had done “more than anyone else” to address the problem. “He was the one who authorised us to create the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to start feeding people … get food to people who are hungry to give it to them in a way where Hamas cannot steal it,” he said. According to the United Nations, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid since the foundation began operating, 500,000 people are facing famine, and every child under five in Gaza is at risk of acute malnutrition.

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