Trump elects Israeli settlements critic as defence secretary

US President-elect Donald Trump has sparked concerns following his announcement that he intends to nominate General James Mattis to serve as Secretary of Defence.

The retired US Marine Corps General nicknamed “Mad Dog” served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and has been an outspoken critic of the Obama administration, especially in regards to the policy in the Middle Eastern and North African.

The General, who is known for his hawkish policies is also a heavy critic of the Iran nuclear deal and is vehemently against the closure of Guantanamo Bay. He has previously said that Iran “remains the single most belligerent actor in the Middle East.”

He has also been condemned by pro-Israel groups for his comments that settlements in the occupied West Bank are leading Israel becoming an “apartheid” state.

“If I’m in Jerusalem and I put 500 Jewish settlers out here to the east and there’s 10,000 Arab settlers in here, if we draw the border to include them, either it ceases to be a Jewish state or you say the Arabs don’t get to vote — apartheid.”