August 17, 2009 - 02:50 PM

My Report From Israel

by Mike Huckabee
It’s nearly 10pm here in Jerusalem and I’ve been up since 3:30 am, preparing radio commentaries, being in the Fox Bureau at 4:30am to do Geraldo, then spending a long day of touring and meetings in Israel with government officials.

From the first event, I’ve been shadowed by about 25 media outlets ranging from AP to Time Magazine and almost all the Israeli press. My visit was on the front page of the local papers and has stirred a significant controversy. Tonight, when I attended a reception at the disputed Shepherd Hotel, there was a large crowd of poster carrying, loud protesters and then another large crowd of counter-protesters who came to show their support of my position for a united Jerusalem and the freedom for Jews and Arabs alike to live anywhere they want in their own country.

The day has been intense and exhausting. The next two days will be similar. I’m amazed at the interest in my trip and the attempt by some to justify a policy that would force Jewish settlers to not live in some areas of their own nation. I can only imagine what an American would say if someone suggested that Baptists wouldn’t be allowed to live in some neighborhoods, while Catholics would be banned in others.

More from Israel soon!
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  • Dr. David

    08/18/2009 04:16 PM

    Deborah 08/18/2009 8:37 am. A century ago, almost 25% of the Palestinian peoples were Christians. Most of them were driven out of the Holy Land by persecution, and now live elsewhere. Why do they not deserve the same justice as was handed to the Jews by the Allies after the Holocaust during WWII?

    Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me...

  • Cornell, Delene

    08/18/2009 04:01 PM

    I know you are taking a lot of heat for your stand on Israel but you are not alone in your views. i agree with you 100%. Don't let them get you down.

  • Judge Deborah

    08/18/2009 10:37 AM

    Muslims already have 57 nations. Why do they need the tiny little package of real estate called Israel?

    The Jews have a right to their own land which was granted them. Israel claimed Independence on May 14, 1948 and was declared a country by the United Nations.

    Israel - MSN - Encarta: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761575008/israel.html

  • Tibbs, Terry

    08/18/2009 05:53 AM

    Huckabee is brave comparing plans to compare banning Catholics to Israeli plans to expand Jewish only settlements where Palestinians would be banned - could lose him a lot of Jewish votes and $$$

    He's slightly wrong when he refers to "their own nation" - I believe the issue only applies to the Occupied Territories and not to Israel itself.

  • JULIEE 4 HUCKABEE, CA

    08/18/2009 01:08 AM

    Dear Governor Huckabee,

    Thank-you for your report! It does not surprise me that you are having such a strong and positive impact during your visit. I am sure that you are a great encouragement to the people of Israel. Especially, since our current Administration seems to be rather ambiguous in who they are supporting.

    May God continue to use you; according to His Divine plan and purpose.

    God Bless you and protect you. Try to get some sleep! :-D

    ***BTW: It's great to see so many new names on Huck*Pac recently. WELCOME!

  • Huckapedia

    08/18/2009 12:03 AM

    Thanks Governor Huckabee for your continued effort to work so hard to make this world a better place. We really appreciate all the hard work you put in everyday and all those long nights, thank you so much! You are a great American Hero!

    *********************************
    Huckabee Fan Club 2012 Update:

    http://www.freewebs.com/huckapedia

    The one year anniversary of the Huckabee Fan Club is this Friday August 21st, we are getting so close to the special number "12" milestone. It is so ironic that after 12 months of expanding the Huckabee Fan Club, we are approaching 1200 members, 12% of every county in America, 12 Nations, 1.2 miles high and 12,000 pages views all for Mike Huckabee's 2012 Presidential Run. It's so interesting that all these numbers just happen to line up to the number 12. And then our milestone date is August 21, just the inverse of 12, wow so very interesting that it all happened this way.

    Let's keep raising that bar everyday and building this gigantic momentum to help Mike Huckabee become the 45th President of the United States of America in 2012.

    Onward Huckabee Fans!!!

  • Alan4Huck

    08/17/2009 11:51 PM

    Gov. Huckabee, we support you and Israel. I'm sure there is a lot of attention on your trip to the Middle East because the current administration has made little progress between Israel and the Palestinians.

    President Obama should never have demanded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the people of Israel to stop construction of settlements on their land. It is sad to see so much pressure on Israel coming from Washington D.C. via the Obama administration.

    The old path to a two-state solution with Israel and the Palestinians has been tried by previous administrations and continues to fall short of lasting peace. Unfortunately, many here in the U.S. don't know why. It would be good for Americans to know that Hamas and most of the Palestinian leaders in Gaza refuse to even recognize Israel's statehood while demanding all kinds of concessions from Israel that would leave it completely vulnerable to attack. Hamas wants more land (more of Israel's land and settlements), control, and recognition while they simultaneously rocket Israeli neighborhoods and families every day of the year.

    How can Israel even try to make peace with Hamas when the destruction of Israel is written in their "founding charter" which is the equivalent of our U.S. Constitution? Here are a few articles from Hamas' charter (you will not see this on CNN or the regular media):

    Article Six excerpt - "...working to unfurl the banner of Allah over every centimeter of Palestine." That means all the land of Israel.
    Article Seven - quotes "The day will come when Muslims will fight the Jews and kill them, to the degree that the Jew will hide behind the rocks and trees, which will cry out to the Muslim and tell him, 'Servant of Allah, a Jew is hiding behind me. Come and kill him!'"
    Article Eleven - forbids any Palestinian peace negotiations or treaties with Israel, "Palestine is Islamic land assigned to the Muslims until the end of time. It may not be renounced or conceded, whether, the whole or in part."
    Article Thirteen - quote, "no solution to the Palestinian problem except through Jihad."

    These are but a few of the articles in the Hamas charter. I hope this sheds some light as to why Hamas, who currently controls Gaza (land Israel conceded to the Palestinians in an effort for peace), will not stop their daily rocket attacks on Israel, why Hamas will never be satisfied with Israeli concessions for land until they have all of Israel, why they will not recognize the State of Israel as a nation, and why Obama's catering to Hamas and their desire for a two-state solution solely on Hamas terms will never work.

  • Schwab, Bonnie

    08/17/2009 11:48 PM

    Appreciate the update Gov. Huckabee, it helps us to know how to pray! Amazing things are happening. I have a sense that you will be forging some important relationships during this visit. Shalom!

  • SSC - Hardcore Texan

    08/17/2009 10:30 PM

    Guv, I know your schedule is very hectic and with jet lag too, so I will pray for some quality sleep and rest and for your safety.

    Please keep showing the map of that region and how tiny Israel is compared to all the other Arab/Muslim nations that support the Palestinians. It is appalling that the President and many other Americans want Israel to forgo even more of its small territory. Your analogy of the Baptists v.s. Catholics is exactly what happened for much too long in Ireland.

    I too pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for Jesus to be proclaimed the true Messiah and the son of Almighty God.

  • rose, maggie

    08/17/2009 09:40 PM

    Glad to hear about Governor Huckbee's trip to Israel - our Governor Perry (Texas) just returned from Israel ... great minds think alike !

  • Hardy, April

    08/17/2009 09:24 PM

    Dear Huck,
    Don't let anyone divide the land that God gave to his chosen people. We already know the "piece by piece" process doesn't work. Freedom for all in HaEretz is the only way anyone will have peace. i'm praying for the peace of Jerusalem.
    Shalom

  • Caplan, John

    08/17/2009 09:08 PM

    Just because you don't believe in islam doesn't mean you have the right to hate people that do. Even if you actually believe god promised israel to the jews is it not concieavble that many of those jews decided to follow mohammad instead of moving to europe? Many palistinians have jewish ancestors. I don't see how your faith is so much more important than the faith of others that you should be allowed to act as gods surrogate and decide if gods promise should be directed at people who stayed in the middle east and believe mohammad was gods prophet or left and went to europe.

    When I first heard you did this I was enraged but now that I have calmed down I ask you forgiveness

  • Hood, Gena

    08/17/2009 08:48 PM

    Praying that you will be kept safe in your travels and that you will receive an extra measure of strength for the journey.
    Psalm 121

  • Judge Deborah

    08/17/2009 07:44 PM

    Thank you, Gov. Huckabee, for supporting God's chosen people, the Israelis, and for promoting Freedom wherever you go!

    God has promised to bless those who bless and protect Israel. Israel is "God's Chosen" because Abraham loved and obeyed God.

    Let those who love God and His Holy Word, the Bible rejoice! God is watching!

  • Youngman, Robert

    08/17/2009 06:51 PM

    It's my dream to visit Israel someday. I want it to be a united and peaceful nation, and I appreciate that you're working towards that goal, Governor.

  • Jill 4 America

    08/17/2009 06:29 PM

    Gov. Huckabee, I always admire your fortitude wherever the challenges of this world take you. Thank-you for being a faithful and courageous friend to Israel.
    I saw you on Fox earlier today. Good reporting and we can all agree that America would not like their neighbors to come over and tell us to get off of our own property. Our president is in need of some enlightenment on this important issue.
    We will all be glad when you return home. God bless and keep you.

  • Thorpe, David

    08/17/2009 06:21 PM

    Mr. Huckabee, I hope you are able to speak to Prime Minister Netenyahu.I believe you would do our country proud and reassure him that most Americans support Israel.With our current administration the Israelies must be sweating just a bit.

  • Walter, Gary

    08/17/2009 06:02 PM

    Thanks for taking this important stand. Our prayers are with you!

  • Campbell, Dr. Ron

    08/17/2009 06:01 PM

    Hope you get a chance to meet with Mike Evans. We enjoyed your speech at Ft. Myers Prayer Breakfast.

  • mxnwilson

    08/17/2009 05:57 PM

    Thank you, Governor Huckabee for continuing to speak out for what is right especially when so much in our country just doesn't seem to make sense.

    I think that many in our country have forgotten which party fought to keep segregation in the United States especially in the south. Now that same party claims to be the party of tolerance. You are a very good representative of a conservative party of which I strongly support.

  • Bian, Nanette

    08/17/2009 05:05 PM

    Israel is one of the most interesting yet complex countries in the world. In graduate school, I studied Middle Eastern foreign policy and it was not until I actually lived in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, that I could begin to understand the nature of their conflict. I opened an office for an international logistics company in 1996 working with both Israelis and Palestinians in coordinating the movement of donated cargo into the West Bank and Gaza. Their passions run deep and I am not surprise they have turn out to meet with you. I am sure they are appreciative of your continued interest in the region.

  • Whitten, Jimi

    08/17/2009 04:47 PM

    Imagine being able to live wherever you want in your own country, what a concept...

  • DE FARIA, RICARDO Gomes de Paiva

    08/17/2009 04:43 PM

    Governor, consider a future close look into the Brazilian example: in this 200 Million inhabitant nation Jews and Arabs live in Peace in a manner that is worth global attention.

    Kindly note that we shall warmly welcome you here in Copacabana.

    https://ricardodefaria.pip.verisignlabs.com/

    RICARDO Gomes de Paiva DE FARIA, Esq.

  • Hall, Randy

    08/17/2009 04:41 PM

    Thank you for the update & what your doing. Me & my wife firmly support Israel & Prime Minister Netanyahu. We are saddened that our President does not support them as he should. Thanks again Mike, we need to show Israel that their are people here in the USA who support them and on whatever action they choose to take.

  • Ian Hauer

    08/17/2009 03:24 PM

    Thank you for the update, sir, as well as all the work you are doing in Israel. Try and get a LITTLE sleep, if you can. Though I fully support what you are doing over there, it'd be nice to have you back here in America safe & sound.