Mike Huckabee, a staunch ideological ally of Israel, was confirmed by the Senate to serve as the United States’ ambassador to the country on Wednesday. The former Arkansas governor and two-time presidential candidate was tapped by President Donald Trump for the post just after the November election.

A majority of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday backed Pete Hoekstra, a former ambassador to the Netherlands, to be ambassador to Canada, a position he would assume as traditional close ties have been strained by President Donald Trump's tariff policy and comments about annexing the neighboring country.