Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Mike Huckabee praises Israel in speech at Knesset; Urges US to Refocus on Iran

(IsraelNN.com) On February 2, ex-Governor of Arkansas and former presidential contender Mike Huckabee was honored at a special Knesset event hosted by Deputy Speaker of the Knesset Danny Danon (Likud), in which Huckabee said he would be a voluntary ambassador for Israel.

Speaking in the Knesset's Negev Hall, Huckabee said he was "disturbed" by the way the United States is handling the increasing nuclear capabilities of Iran. "A nuclear device, in the hands of a madman like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is simply unacceptable, and the world – not just Israel, but the rest of the free world – must make it clear that that cannot and will not happen, under any circumstances, at any time." Huckabee recalled a speech made by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in which he warned Israeli legislators, "This is 1938. And Iran is Germany." He expressed his support for this outlook, telling attendees that Iran must be stopped.

He offered criticism of the administration of President Barack Obama, who he said has misplaced its priorities in the region. "It pains me that I hear more concern from this administration of our country, talking about the building of a baby's nursery in a Jewish-owned community in Israel, than about the construction of a nuclear bomb in Iran."

Huckabee's statement was received with vigorous applause.

Huckabee's closing statements in the Knesset were offered in prayer. "My hope and my prayer is that not only will you sense our gratitude for your hospitality and for your candor in sharing with us the perspective you have brought to us today, but I also would sincerely want to express that it is our desire to go back to our home, not only as good and faithful and loyal Americans, but also as voluntarily ambassadors for our friends in Israel, that we might always pray for the peace of Jerusalem, that we might always work for the stability, the safety, and the security of this land, and these people, our friends, our family. G-d bless you."