US envoy accuses Israel of persecuting Christian organisations Threatens diplomatic fallout

On July 18, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sent one of the harshest letters ever from an American envoy to an Israeli government agency, addressing Israel’s Interior Minister. 

A copy of the letter was also received by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Channel 12 reported.

In the letter, Huckabee expressed strong outrage over Israel’s refusal to issue collective entry visas to dozens of Christian organisations. He warned of possible retaliatory actions, including refusing to issue visas to Israeli citizens.

Huckabee highlighted the irony that despite the close ties between Israel and the US under the Trump administration, Israel’s policy towards Christian organisations has become increasingly restrictive.

According to him, the Ministry of the Interior effectively conducts its own investigations of evangelical organisations before permitting their representatives to enter the country. These groups have been forced to complete detailed questionnaires about their religious beliefs, activities, and assets held within Israel.

As a result, none of the Christian organisations have been granted visas for their clergy.

“It’s incredible that the situation is getting worse, not better,” Huckabee wrote. “Christians and evangelicals in the United States are friends of Israel. But we feel that we are being treated as enemies.”

He went on to say, “As the US ambassador under the Donald Trump administration, I formally request that the deteriorating relationship with the State Department be resolved.”

Huckabee also issued a strong warning: “It would be extremely unfortunate if our embassy were forced to publicly state that Israel does not welcome but persecutes Christian organisations. We also have a duty to warn Christians in the United States that their generous donations are met with hostility and that tourists should reconsider their plans.”

By Tamilla Hasanova