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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

Friend and frank critic: Huckabee on Israel, Gaza, and why Iran may need a 'third kick of the mule'

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Context piece
  • US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the embassy will hold its delayed celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary at Jerusalem’s Museum of Tolerance.
  • Huckabee described the US-Israel partnership as valuable in intelligence, military hardware, technology and counterterrorism.
  • He also condemned violence by Israeli citizens against Palestinians in the West Bank, saying violence should be condemned regardless of who commits it.

Mike Huckabee wants the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem to host more than a diplomatic celebration. For the US ambassador to Israel, the venue reflects the historic connection he sees between America and the Jewish state.

It is a magnificent venue, perfect for our event because it’s large enough and the technology here is state-of-the-art. I can’t think of any location in the entire State of Israel that would be more appropriate.

· Mike HuckabeeThe US ambassador described the Jerusalem museum chosen for the embassy’s 250th-anniversary celebration.

The embassy will hold its celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary there next week, two months after the July 4 holiday. Huckabee said the delay followed several intense months marked by wars, ceasefire negotiations and violence affecting US citizens in the region.

He praised the museum as a “magnificent venue” with enough space and state-of-the-art technology. Huckabee said he could not imagine a more appropriate location anywhere in Israel. The event also carries added weight because the United States recently marked 250 years since its founding.

We have a lot to celebrate as Americans, and we have a lot to celebrate with Israel.

· Mike HuckabeeHuckabee spoke about the anniversary and the US relationship with Israel.

Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor appointed by President Donald Trump, spoke about the relationship with Israel in firmly affirmative terms. He said the United States needs Israel as much as Israel needs the United States, and described the partnership as valuable in intelligence, military hardware, technology and counterterrorism.

The partnership with Israel is incredibly valuable to the United States.

· Mike HuckabeeHuckabee listed intelligence, military hardware, technology and counterterrorism among the benefits of the partnership.

His support for Israel, however, has not prevented him from criticizing attacks by Israeli citizens against Palestinians in the West Bank, which he referred to using the Israeli term Judea and Samaria. “Violence is violence. It doesn’t matter who does it, it should be condemned,” he said. He added that condemning Palestinian attacks on Israelis while refusing to speak against Israeli violence would make him a hypocrite. The comments place his endorsement of the alliance alongside a direct warning that settler violence is damaging Israel’s reputation in the United States.

Violence is violence. It doesn’t matter who does it, it should be condemned.

· Mike HuckabeeHe condemned violence by Israeli citizens against Palestinians in the West Bank.
About this summary

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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