US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee expressed confidence that more countries in the Middle East will soon formalise ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords.

Speaking in Israel, Huckabee acknowledged that many Arab nations remain critical of Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and, most recently, Iran.

He also emphasised US backing for the campaign against Iran, stating, “Israel is the appetizer, America has always been the entrée” in confronting Tehran’s theocracy.

“The Gulf states now understand they must make a choice – are they more likely to face attacks from Iran or Israel?” Huckabee said.

“They see that Israel has assisted us while Iran has attacked us. Israel is not trying to seize your land or fire missiles at you.”

Israel sent Iron Dome systems to UAE

Israel has ​sent batteries for its Iron Dome air defence system along with personnel to operate them ‌to the United Arab Emirates, Huckabee said on Tuesday.

The batteries, which typically include radars and missile launchers, were sent to the UAE to help it defend against Iranian attacks, a source briefed on the matter ​told Reuters.

“Israel just sent them (the UAE) Iron Dome batteries ​and personnel to help them operate them. How come? Because there’s an extraordinary relationship between the UAE and ​Israel based on the Abraham Accords,” Huckabee said at an event in Tel Aviv, referring to a 2020 deal that saw Israel establish ties with the UAE.

Huckabee, speaking in Tel Aviv, was also asked about [violent attacks](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-envoy-says-israel-sent-iron-dome-battery-personnel-uae-2026-05-12/violent attacks) carried out by extremist Jews against Christians in Jerusalem’s Old City and by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

An Evangelical Christian who has long supported Israel, Huckabee responded that “terrorism is terrorism. It doesn’t ​matter who does it, ​it’s what is done ⁠that is the crime.”

Huckabee also said many of the Israelis committing violence in the West Bank did not live there.

He said that they may live ​in Tel Aviv, ⁠a city that is generally perceived as more liberal than other parts of the country.

But after some in the crowd jeered, Huckabee added: “But they probably don’t”.

“But wherever they live, when they commit an act of ⁠terror or ​crime, then what they have done, I feel like, is ​a dishonour to the State of Israel and to the Jewish people, and it should be condemned,” he said.