Greetings to you, incoming US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. Today, you will land in Israel, the Holy Land and the land of divine promise, and breathe in its intoxicating mountain air. As you've said, you've visited here about 100 times, but this time is different: this time, you're arriving as the official representative of the greatest and most important superpower of the modern era, to make history.
The US and Israel are fortunate to have an exemplary ambassador. You bring with you a rich résumé of positions and accomplishments, equipped with numerous skills, and even more importantly, with a clear and moral worldview.
Ahead of your confirmation in the US Senate, several left-wing Jewish groups sought to argue that you were unfit to serve as the American ambassador to Israel. And what were the flaws they found in you? Simply put: in their eyes, you are too pro-American and too pro-Israel, and you make no effort to hide it. In fact, your unfortunate opponents, who now watch in dismay as their life's work of hounding Israel and uplifting its enemies crumbles before their eyes with Donald Trump's return to the White House, compiled a rather lengthy list of your so-called "sins." Unforgivable ones, in their view:
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You recognize that the Land of Israel is the Jewish people's ancestral homeland, and that they are not occupiers in their own land.
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You do not call for Israel to be forced down the path of withdrawals and concessions to those seeking its destruction.
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You refuse to flirt with the ayatollahs' regime in Iran and you will not turn a blind eye to its race toward nuclear weapons.
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You won't cooperate with the invention of a "Palestinian people," a fabrication concocted by the KGB to mask the long-standing Arab goal of driving the Jews into the sea.
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You understand that establishing another Arab terrorist state in Judea and Samaria is contrary to both American and Israeli interests.
With a list of "sins" like that, it's no wonder that anti-Israel protesters, those who rioted on your country's college campuses following the October 7 massacre, as well as those among the American Jewish left who are always quick to justify the perpetrators of the massacre, were less than enthusiastic about you representing Washington in Jerusalem. As a rule, they're not too keen on the embassy being in Jerusalem at all, but that was a battle they lost during Trump's first term.
Now, thanks to you, thanks to the president who appointed you, and thanks to the people who elected him, they are going to lose even more battles. You are going to make history and contribute significantly to strengthening the standing of both the US and Israel, and they will have the opportunity to add many more "sins" to your record.
In time, you'll discover that even within Israel, there were some who rejoiced when ambassadors arrived who weakened and undermined our country, and that your appointment upset them. They are a small minority. Give them more reasons to be upset.
Do not fear those who tried to block your appointment, nor their counterparts on the Israeli left, their attacks on you are a mark of distinction. Your strength lies in your commitment to the truth. May truth guide your term in office always.
The people of Israel welcome you, Ambassador Huckabee!
