Trump’s UN Ambassador Nominee Claims Israel Has “Biblical” Right to West Bank

Elise Stefanik, President Donald Trump’s nominee for US Ambassador to the United Nations, ignited controversy during her confirmation hearing on Tuesday by saying she believes Israel has a “biblical” right to the entirety of the occupied West Bank, Al Jazeera reports.

During questioning before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Stefanik confirmed she shares the view of far-right Israeli politicians who assert that Israel’s claim to the West Bank is divinely ordained. When directly asked by Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen if she subscribed to this belief, Stefanik replied, “Yes.” She notably sidestepped the question of Palestinian self-determination.

Stefanik’s remarks align with a pattern of statements from members of the incoming Trump team. Trump has already reversed Biden-era sanctions on Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinians. Moreover, 2008 comments from Mike Huckabee, recently nominated for an unspecified position, have resurfaced, in which he claimed the Palestinian identity was a “fiction.”

Stefanik, a staunch Trump ally who gained notoriety for her aggressive questioning of university presidents regarding antisemitism on campus, outlined her broader vision for the UN. In her opening remarks, she pledged to implement Trump’s “America First” agenda and strengthen US support for Israel. She vowed to conduct a full audit of US funding for the UN and its agencies, promising to ensure that American dollars are spent in service of American interests. She also declared her opposition to US funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), despite its vital role in providing humanitarian assistance in the region

During the hearing, Stefanik repeatedly echoed the claim that the UN unfairly targets Israel and expressed concern about “anti-Semitic rot” within the organization. She emphasized her intention to continue the legacy of unwavering U support for Israel.

The comments from Stefanik and other Trump nominees signal a dramatic break from the Biden administration’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the Biden administration consistently supported Israel at the UN, they maintained a critical stance regarding the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank under international law. The Trump administration, in its first term, removed a long-standing US policy against the settlements.

Stefanik’s confirmation hearing occurred shortly after Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, was sworn in, marking the official start of the transition for key foreign policy positions in the administration.