Huckabee tells Israel embassy staff to leave ‘today’ if they want to as Iran talks stall

The State Department is letting non-essential personnel and the family members of diplomats at the US embassy in Israel to leave the country as fears grow that war with Iran is imminent.

In an email to staff sent Friday morning, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee warned that those wishing to depart the Jewish state “should do so TODAY.”

“Focus on getting a seat to anyplace from which you can then continue travel to DC,” added the former Arkansas governor in the message, first reported by the New York Times, “but the first priority will be getting expeditiously out of country.”

Huckabee aded that the decision to allow departures was made out of “an abundance of caution.”

Friday’s email follows unsuccessful indirect talks between the US and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program, though additional discussions were set to take place next week in Vienna, Austria.