Walker, a former Republican congressman and Baptist pastor from North Carolina, was nominated by\u00a0President Donald Trump <\/a>to serve as the nation\u2019s top global envoy for religious liberty. He will officially assume the post once confirmed by the Senate, becoming the seventh American to hold the role since it was created by Congress in 1998.<\/p>\n His visit to Israel, he explained, was driven by both friendship and timing. “All these other historic landmark agreements are happening the same week we\u2019re here,” Walker said. “It\u2019s been amazing to see the excitement \u2014 literally banners hanging from buildings and parks thanking President Trump for his ongoing efforts and the strength he\u2019s shown to drive the region toward peace<\/a>.”<\/p>\n VANCE WARNS HAMAS AS GAZA PEACE PLAN’S CIVILIAN MILITARY COOPERATION CENTER OPENS<\/a><\/p>\n Ambassador-designate Mark Walker, center, visits the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel, in October 2025. (Warren Cohn)<\/p>\n Walker said he was particularly moved by his meetings with hostage families.<\/p>\n “I was overwhelmed to spend some time with Keith Siegel, who endured 483 days of captivity and torture, and with\u00a0Ruby Chen<\/a>, whose son, Itay, was killed by Hamas \u2014 his body still not returned,” Walker said. “To hear the passion in Ruby\u2019s voice, to see his perseverance, it\u2019s overwhelming. In America, we\u2019re watching this from a distance. But being here on the ground, seeing how the community has banded together to stand up for these hostages \u2014 alive or dead \u2014 has impacted me in a different manner.”<\/p>\n The experience, he said, deepened his appreciation for Israel\u2019s resilience. “The people of Israel have stood resiliently in the face of evil,” he said. “Their faith and courage remind the world what strength looks like.”<\/p>\n With U.S. officials visiting Israel to monitor the fragile ceasefire, Walker said he remains confident in the administration\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n Ambassador-designate Mark Walker for religious freedom with freed hostage Keith Siegel and Rubi Chen, father of hostage Itay Chen. (Warren Cohn)<\/p>\n ISRAEL IDENTIFIES 2 HOSTAGES RETURNED FROM GAZA AS RESIDENTS OF SAME KIBBUTZ<\/a><\/p>\n “I have\u00a0no confidence in Hamas<\/a> based on their history,” he said. “But I have great confidence in President Trump and what he\u2019s doing. He\u2019s committed to peace and showing it with his actions \u2014 sending Vice President Vance, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff here this week.”<\/p>\n He also praised Secretary of State\u00a0Marco Rubio<\/a> for advancing the administration\u2019s diplomatic agenda. “This isn\u2019t a photo opportunity,” Walker said. “It\u2019s a real plan for long-term stability.”<\/p>\n When asked how he views Israel\u2019s importance, Walker reflected on his years in Congress.<\/p>\n “I think historically, we\u2019ve had a long-standing relationship of supporting each other through times of peril as well as times of success,” he said. “Certainly, military and business relationships, but from a spiritual standpoint, America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles.”<\/p>\n He added, “When you sit in the House chamber where President Trump gives the State of the Union, there are 22 or 23 philosophers \u2014 great men of genius \u2014 depicted above. But there\u2019s only one historical figure looking directly at the speaker\u2019s rostrum, and that\u2019s Moses. That tells you a lot about the spiritual connection that binds our two countries.”<\/p>\n Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the Knesset as President Donald Trump and Amir Ohana, Speaker of the Israeli Knesset, look on at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 in Jerusalem.\u00a0 (Chip Somodevilla\/Pool via AP)<\/p>\n When asked about criticism from some within the evangelical community<\/a> regarding its close alignment with Israel, Walker said he welcomes open discussion but rejects efforts to undermine the partnership. “I don\u2019t have a problem with anyone questioning \u2014 we ought to be able to defend those relationships,” he said. “But when you see some of the talk lately that aims to degrade that relationship, maybe for personal gain or attention, I do have a problem with it, and I think it needs to be condemned.”<\/p>\n He added that such views are far from mainstream. “The evangelical communities that I\u2019m part of \u2014 and I happen to be a member of the largest Protestant organization in the United States \u2014 don\u2019t have those issues,” he said. “There may be some who are loosely affiliated and use that kind of rhetoric, but the overwhelming majority of evangelicals in America applaud and encourage the relationship we have with Israel.”<\/p>\n Attendees wave Israel and the United States flags at the Christians United for Israel (CUFI) summit on July 17, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia. GOP presidential hopefuls for 2024 are making their cases before the pro-Israeli group.\u00a0 (Photo by Anna Moneymaker\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n On his new role, Walker said the mission was deeply personal.<\/p>\n “When President Trump reached out and asked us to serve as the ambassador for International Religious Freedom \u2014 that\u2019s a global position \u2014 it was humbling,” he said. “The responsibility is to advocate for people of all faiths, especially in places where they\u2019re persecuted or punished by blasphemy laws.”<\/p>\n EVANGELICAL LEADERS PRAISE TRUMP\u2019S CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AMID WAR WITH IRAN<\/a><\/p>\n Walker said he is already building relationships with governments and faith leaders to prepare for his official role advising both President Trump and Secretary Rubio.<\/p>\n “Our job is to engage, expose and eradicate atrocities \u2014 whether it\u2019s Christians in Nigeria<\/a> being massacred, Druze in Syria targeted or rising antisemitic behavior worldwide<\/a>,” he said. “The United States must remain the beacon of hope for religious freedom. We\u2019re the only country that has it written into law.”<\/p>\n He added that Israel\u2019s example of tolerance stands out in the Middle East. “Christians should be able to live peaceably, share their faith and worship without fear,” he said. “The fact that Israel allows that in a region where so many others don\u2019t is meaningful.”<\/p>\n U.S. President Donald Trump holds the signed agreement of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. REUTERS\/Evelyn Hockstein (Reuters)<\/p>\n Walker said he plans to “push back wherever persecution exists \u2014 whether through diplomacy or by urging governments to repeal blasphemy and anti-conversion laws.”<\/p>\n![\"Ambassador-designate](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mark-walker-israel.jpg\")
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