Denies Palestine's Existence.. Trump Selects Ambassador to Israel
Huckabee's previous anti-Palestinian statements indicate potential escalation of regional tension during his ambassadorship
November 13, 2024, 10:59 pm

Denies Palestine's Existence.. Trump Selects Ambassador to Israel

مايك هاكابي \ تعبيرية \ متداولة

President-elect Donald Trump's announcement appointing former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as US Ambassador to Israel has sparked controversy, following the circulation of his previous statements denying the existence of the Palestinian people.

Activists on social media platforms recalled a 2008 video showing the 69-year-old evangelical pastor claiming "there is no such thing as Palestine or Palestinian," considering that "Palestinian identity is merely a political tool to try to force Israel to give up land."

Social media users shared another clip of the appointed ambassador during his 2015 presidential campaign, reported by CNN, where he suggests establishing the Palestinian state in neighboring countries like Egypt, Syria, or Jordan, rejecting its establishment within Israel's borders.

Huckabee, father of former White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders, is known for supporting the annexation of the West Bank to Israel and rejecting the two-state solution. He previously expressed desire to purchase a home in the "Efrat" settlement established in 1983, despite the United Nations considering such settlements illegal.

These developments come as Trump, who approved moving the US embassy to Jerusalem during his first term, promised to end conflicts around the world, particularly the Russian-Ukrainian war and Gaza conflict. His upcoming administration, taking office on January 20, is expected to continue ceasefire efforts in Gaza and Lebanon.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”