LAS VEGAS — U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, speaking at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual conference, condemned Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood for their spending to influence U.S. education with anti-Israel sentiment.

The comments were notable given that the Trump administration has maintained close ties with Qatar and praised it as a key U.S. ally, even as the White House has designated branches of the Muslim Brotherhood, which Qatar supports, as a terrorist organization.

“There’s an enormous amount of cold, brutal cash that’s being poured into Middle East studies into the U.S. — the propaganda campaigns funded by the Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar and other countries, who have poured billions of dollars to impress young minds,” Huckabee said, addressing a question from RJC CEO Matt Brooks about anti-Israel sentiment.

Huckabee also blamed social media and the United Nations and non-governmental organizations for promoting hostility to Israel.

The U.S. ambassador has previously made similar comments in an interview with Jewish Insider linking foreign spending by Gulf states in U.S. education to declining support for Israel among young evangelical Christians, without singling out Qatar specifically.