Traveling Through Israel With Mike HuckabeeBy: Helen Freedman
When I received the invitation from Shani Hikind at the Ateret Cohanim/ Jerusalem Reclamation Project, to accompany Republican Presidential candidate and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee on a mission to Israel, I agreed immediately. Having listened to Huckabee speak at the many debates held amongst the candidates, and being a fan of his Fox television show and his ABC radio shows, I knew that traveling with Mike would be a unique and extraordinary experience. It was all that and more!! I arrived at Newark airport late Saturday night, August 15, and waited at the gate to board my El-Al midnight flight to Israel. An unassuming man walked into the area all alone. There was no entourage, no guards, no secretaries, and no press. When I looked again, I realized it was Mike Huckabee. I approached him, introduced myself, and told him I was part of the group with which he would be traveling. He was as gracious as could be, agreed to take some books and materials that I had for him, and posed for a photo with me. From that time on, he greeted me as Helen whenever we met. He had that same warm quality with everyone in the group, remembering each one's name and greeting each one with a smile. This calm, affable, genuine quality about him continued throughout our three day trip in Israel, despite the constant pressure of the media, surrounding him, pushing their way forward, shouting out questions, and following him everywhere.
Our first day was concentrated in Jerusalem, with a
fascinating tour of the City of David, where ancient excavations dating
back 3200 years have been discovered. This was followed by trips through
the former Yemenite village in Silwan, now mostly Arab, a visit to
Ma'Aleh HaZaytim, a flourishing Jewish development on the Mount of
Olives, and a delightful stop at Kidmat Zion, adjacent to the ugly
wall that cuts through Jerusalem and separates Abu Dis from the rest of
Jerusalem. While most of us enjoyed a picnic lunch in the lovely shaded
forest area adjacent to Kidmat Zion, Mike Huckabee sat in the strong
sunshine, in front of a stunning view of the Old City, while he gave
interview after interview to the omnipresent press.
Huckabee's remarks to the press have been well recorded, but
there were some comments that stand out in my memory. He insisted his
visit was not meant to be a provocation. He believes that two sovereign
nations cannot control the same piece of territory. He affirms the
unique relationship between the U.S. and Israel which he describes as
organic, with both having experienced the same struggle and victory.
He also spoke about his experiences growing up in the deep South with
segregated schools, which makes him very sensitive to issues of
discrimination and prejudice.
When asked about the "occupation," Mike Huckabee responded
brilliantly. He described Israel's government as one of ACCOMODATION,
NOT OCCUPATION. He spoke about Israel's efforts to bring all types of
services to the Arab communities such as schools, infra-structure
development, hospitals, and welfare payments.
The Moskowitz family, who bought the Shepherd Hotel in the
Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem, hosted a lovely
cocktail reception on Monday evening at the hotel. Although the hotel is
located near the National Headquarters of the Israeli police, near the
tomb of Shimon HaTzadik, and adjacent to the Hebrew University and
Hadassah Hospital on Mt. Scopus, the purchase of the hotel by a Jewish
family, with the purpose of converting it to apartments for Jews, had
set off a storm of protest. As we arrived at the hotel, we saw the
protestors from Peace Now screaming their opposition to Huckabee's
presence at the hotel. Huckabee's reaction to their insults and noise
was that their ability to behave in that fashion simply demonstrated
Israel's democratic character, where free speech, even if ugly and
unwanted, was fully tolerated.
On Tuesday, the former Governor was given a tour of Ma'aleh
Adumim and the E1 corridor to Jerusalem. The Mayor explained that the
population of 7,000 people in the city provided 2000 jobs to Arabs, and
that freezing construction meant putting Arabs out of work. Huckabee
agreed that Obama's policies are not in synch with his campaign
promises, nor with his assurances made to AIPAC of his continued support
for previous understandings regarding Israel's settlement situation.
Huckabee asserted that Israelis must make their own decisions.
He continued along these lines as we toured the Shomron/Samaria with
David Ha'Ivri. We visited Beit El, Har Greezim overlooking Shechem, Har
Bracha, and Givat Olam. In each place he met hard working, devoted
people who love the Land of Israel and dedicate their lives to its
preservation. Gershon Mesika, the head of the Shomron Regional Council,
asked Huckabee to train Jewish people to love Israel and bring the
Temple back to Jerusalem.
Huckabee spoke about the very deep support from Christians
in the U.S. He believes there is more unity amongst Evangelicals for
Israel than there is among Jews. He describes the Christian connection
to Judaism as one that is totally genetic, contained in the DNA, and
because of this, Bible-believing Christians assert the right of the Jews
to their homeland.
Huckabee suggested that Obama's positions on Israel have
brought anxiety to Congress. He believes that Democrats don't want to be
seen to be in conflict with Israel. He reminded us of Reagan's bombing
of Libya with Israel as America's only ally, and stated that,
"Abandoning the Israel/U.S. relationship would be the undoing of both
countries." Responding to questions about defensible borders for Israel,
Huckabee maintained that there would be none if control were turned over
to Hamas.
He reminded us of Einstein's definition of insanity, doing the same
thing over and over and expecting a different result. He recommends
starting with a blank slate and seeing what is realistically possible;
there is no point in talking about a plan that is a proven failure.
Although Huckabee recognized that he is out of the mainstream in his
beliefs, he says he prefers that to the position of always having to
check the prevailing winds. Asserting that Jews should have the right to
live wherever they choose in their homeland, he comments that, "If Arabs
didn't want to lose land, they shouldn't have started wars." He reminded
us that wars and history have caused so many lands to change hands and
populations.
That evening, back in Jerusalem, there was a cocktail
reception at the very beautiful home of Mr. Guma Aguiar in Yemin Moshe.
The former Governor was awarded photos and plaques for his deep devotion
to Israel as the Jewish homeland. Many Members of Knesset and other
dignitaries were there, along with the press, and once again Huckabee
displayed his modesty, equanimity, and sincerity as he graciously
accepted the awards and once again pledged his devotion to Israel.
By Wednesday, August 19, work commitments began to
intrude in the planned schedule. Huckabee did get to the Gush Katif
museum in Jerusalem, where he met Rivka Golschmidt, an evacuee from the
destroyed Gush Katif communities. He spoke to her earnestly, listening
to her description of what it had been like to have led a useful and
productive life in a beautiful home and community and then to have it
all torn away and destroyed. Four years later, only 15% of the 400
farmers of Gush Katif have received proper compensation. In Gush Katif
there were 50 greenhouses. Now there are only three. People are still
paying off the mortgages on their destroyed homes, and must pay rent for
the caravans in which they live in the refugee camps. Huckabee seemed
deeply moved by what he heard, and also by the vivid photos and
powerfully emotional film of the expulsion.
He was unable to continue with us on our visit to Nitzan, one of the
largest of the Jewish refugee camps, where we met with Dror Vanunu and
Rachel and Moshe Saperstein, former residents of Nevei Dekalim and now
residents of Nitzan. After a lovely lunch at the visitor's center, we
traveled on to Hebron to enjoy the spirituality always present in this
city of our Matriarchs and Patriarchs. David Wilder once again served as
our valuable guide.
At our farewell dinner at "Between the Arches" restaurant in
the Old City, Huckabee was there to greet each one of us. He shook hands
with us individually, and posed for photos. I spoke to him briefly about
his plans to visit Israel again in late January/February with a
Christian group. I reminded him that Herbert Zweibon, Chairman of my
organization, Americans for a Safe Israel/AFSI, has always worked
closely with the Christian community and would work with him on his
planned visit. He indicated that he would look forward to discussing
this further.
Mike Huckabee did not stay to dine with us. He had fought the
Jerusalem traffic that erev Rosh Chodesh Elul night simply to say
farewell personally to each one of us who had accompanied him on this
memorable trip. He then left for the airport and his return flight to
New York. I look forward to seeing his personal reports on Fox News and
listening to his radio commentaries on Israel. I hope that the messages
he brings back, which are strong contradictions of the Obama policies,
will help to educate the general public about the true situation that
exists in Israel today, and the necessity of keeping Israel a viable
ally of America. |
