Huckabee: U.S. fights Iran for itself, not Israel

The ambassador rejected genocide and apartheid accusations, but condemned intimidation by radical Israelis in Judea and Samaria. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee in an interview published on Wednesday rejected the notion that the United States was fighting Iran to defend Israel, arguing it was for America's own defense. In the interview with Israeli outlet Ynet, Huckabee also dismissed the accusations that Israel was an “apartheid state” or guilty of genocide, but condemned what he called intimidation by radical Israelis who live in Judea and Samaria. On Iran, Huckabee said: “America has never defended Israel. Not one time since 1948 has America ever put boots on the ground for Israel. “When we are partnering against Iran, we’re not defending Israel; we’re defending the United States. Israel is maybe the appetizer, but we’re the entree.” Huckabee pushed back against the narrative according to which U.S.