Ahead of a likely bid for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is making like a candidate and touring the Middle East, a favorite hot spot for aspiring national politicians.
Unlike his fellow GOP hopeful Mitt Romney, however, Huckabee is limiting his itinerary to Israel in a trip (his 15th to Israel) to show support for the conservative government of Benjamin Netanyahu and his aggressive stance on expanding Israeli settlements on what is internationally recognized as Palestinian territory.
Huckabee is leading many early GOP primary polls and has a very good chance at being the Republican nominee facing President Obama in 2012. His political success makes his statement that Palestinians need to be moved out of all of Israel and into a “Muslim” country all the more controversial and potentially significant for U.S. policy.
Huckabee waded into the global controversy over settlement expansion at the heart of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict with his own opinion that a separate Palestinian state in Palestine is “unrealistic” and that Palestinians need to be moved to other “territory” that is already “in the hands of Muslims.”
Potential 2012 U.S. presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said Tuesday that if Palestinians want an independent state, they should seek it from Arabs – not Israel.
The evangelical minister and Fox News host said Jews should be allowed to settle anywhere throughout the biblical Land of Israel – an area that includes the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
He called the demand on Israel to give up land for peace an “unrealistic, unworkable and unreachable goal.”
Most of the international community – including President Barack Obama – considers Jewish settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem illegal because they are built on occupied land Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians claim both areas for a future state.
Huckabee suggested that a Palestinian state were to be established, it shouldn’t come at Israel’s expense.
“There are vast amounts of territory that are in the hands of Muslims, in the hands of Arabs. Maybe the international community can come together and accommodate,” he said in a meeting with reporters.
It’s not the only moment of controversy from Huckabee during his high-profile Israel trip.
With the crisis in Egypt unfolding only a few hundred miles away, the GOP presidential contender offered a surprisingly harsh reaction to the protests of millions of ordinary Egyptians against the decades-long reign of dictator Hosni Mubarak. Huckabee said he opposes the protesters and worries that their quest for democracy could “threaten the world.”
Mike Huckabee, on his 15th trip to Israel, weighs in on the situation in Egypt — and essentially comes out against the pro-democracy protesters:
“[T]he events of the past few days in Egypt have created a very tenuous situation, not just for Egypt, not just for the Middle East, but for the entire world, and the destabilization of that nation has the potential of cascading across the globe.”
According to another Israeli newspaper, Huckabee also told the Knesset, “the situation could threaten the world and all those who seek peace and security.”
This is Evangelical Christian code-speak. They believe that the messiah cannot return until Jews are all settled in Israel. This man should never, ever be president.
Huckabee is right.
Nothing sillier than the idea that the problems of the Middle East would be solved if Isreal, a tiny little sliver of a nation smaller than virtually every U.S. State, would just give up more land!
Israel unilaterally gave up some land for peace a few years ago with Gaza. How has that worked out? Gaza is a hell hole and immediately became source for closer rocket launches on Israel.
Oh, Israel captured Jewish Settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as a result of the 1967 War. They should give them back
Why did the 1967 War occur?
The 1967 War occured because virtually all of Israel’s neighbors, including Egypt, Syria, even Jordan, banded together and unilaterally commenced war on Israel, without the slightest provocation, in order to fulfill their long-standing dream of wiping Israel off the face of the earth. What a surprise when Israel actually fought back successfully!
Why should Israel give the “settlements” back? For Israeli security? So that the “settlements” can be turned into another Gaza, a wretched place to live where rockets can easily reach the rest of Jerusalem?
Oh, “most of the international community–including President Obama–consider the settlements illegal…” Wow, talk about a powerful appeal to authority! Don’t forget Van Jones! He does too!
Huckabee does bring up the essential question. Why shouldn’t a Palestinian state be created somewhere else in the Middle East?
Reminds me of Helen Thomas, but without the media backlash.
At first blush Huckabee comes across as a moderate, thoughtful conservative with some decent ideas — certainly more compassionate than his fellow conservatives. However, as a presidential contender, Huckabee is nowhere qualified, knowledgeable or even suited to deal with international affairs or domestic affairs.
First of all Huckabee’s obvious bias toward Israel is problematic for several reasons. Although Israel is our closest ally, the US must be recognized as a neutral broker between Israel and Palestine. Most of the anti-American sentiment stems from the fact that the US looks the other way when it comes to Israel. For Huckabee to suggest expelling Palestinians from their homeland as a solution is just ignorant and moreover dangerous. Ethnic cleansing is never acceptable.
Second, normally while overseas politicians do not defy US foreign policy — at least not publicly. Yet Huckabee boldly and defiantly did just to beef-up his international credentials with the Christian right. Political grandstanding for self-interests not only undermines the President’s efforts, it adds more tension and angst to an already difficult situation, and validates the perception that the US is not interested in brokering a fair peace accord between Palestine and Israel.
Third, as reflected in his comments to Netanyahu and statements during the 2008 presidential campaign that biblical law ought to be the law of the land, religion dictates his worldview. Thus as leader of the free world, Huckabee would be making decisions within such a narrow framework and religious context, that the consequences of which would be grave.
Furthermore with Egypt in turmoil and events still unfolding, Huckabee’s reaction to the protests is another troubling aspect that clearly indicates he does not understand the situation. Instead of remaining quiet as he should have Huckabee, in his zeal to please the Christian right and Israel, made a mockery out of the fight for democracy and freedom.
If that doesn’t give us pause, I don’t know what will!
Huckabee isn’t suggesting “expelling Palestinians from their homeland.” And to use the term “ethnic cleansing” in the context of Huckabee or modern Israel is silly.
Honest broker? Let’s see, on one hand you have a modern democracy, Israel, where human rights for men, women, gays, minorities are celebrated to the extent that the readers of the UnPrincipled Progressive would be hard-pressed to find something to complain about. Heck, the UnPrincipled Progressive probably wouldn’t hardly be allowed anywhere but Israel.
On the other hand you have Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Iran. Where would you prefer to live and celebrate your individuality, Israel or the Arab countries?
Huckabee’s not “boldly and defiantly” defying U.S. policy at all. He’s giving his opinion on a subject he obviously knows a lot about. Did you accuse Democrat politicians of defying U.S. foreign policy by criticizing George W. Bush?
You’d have to provide me proof the Huckabee has said that “biblical law ought to be the law of the land.” Never happened. Its nice to set up the Straw Man that he is a right-wing religious zealot, but like Bill Clinton, Huckabee is a multi-term governor of Arkansas with a pretty reasonable track record of moderation and sanity in public life.
His speech as idiot as his face….how are Zion’s brother???? and US will be disappear from the map if he’s the US President….scary!