Elise Stefanik, President Donald Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to the United Nations, has sparked controversy by saying Israel has a “biblical right” to the occupied West Bank. During her confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Stefanik pledged to continue the US defense of Israel and advance Trump’s “America First” agenda.
Stefanik stated she would audit US funding for the UN and its agencies, seek to counter China’s influence at the international organisation, and bolster Washington’s support for Israel. However, her views on the West Bank signalled a stark contrast with the Biden administration, which provided resolute support for Israel at the UN.
The incoming Trump administration has taken a different tack, with Trump’s first term seeing a surge in settlements and his administration removing a policy that recognised the expansion into the West Bank as illegal. Stefanik’s comments followed similar views expressed by Trump’s pick for US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who cited biblical justification for Israeli control over the territory.
Stefanik has been a strong defender of Israel in the US House of Representatives and has faced criticism for her role in promoting anti-Palestinian rhetoric on campus. During her hearing, she defended Israel’s human rights record despite criticisms from UN experts that its methods in Gaza are consistent with genocide.
The nomination has sparked concerns over Stefanik’s stance on Palestinian rights, with critics accusing her of supporting a hardline Israeli stance. If confirmed as ambassador, Stefanik would play a key role in shaping US policy towards the Middle East and the UN.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/21/trumps-un-ambassador-pick-says-israel-has-biblical-right-to-west-bank