Accompanied by his wife Janet and other dignitaries, Ambassador Huckabee was welcomed with full honors. President Herzog delivered an emotional address praising Huckabee’s longstanding support for Israel and his moral clarity in recent turbulent times.
“Welcome home, dear brother of Israel,” Herzog said. “Like our forefather Abraham, you have fulfilled the commandment to ‘arise and walk the land.’ And now you return as the official emissary of our greatest ally — the United States of America. It is a natural step.”
Herzog commended Huckabee’s unwavering public support of Israel, especially since the October 7 Hamas massacre, calling him “a clear voice of conscience and morality.” Quoting the prophet Isaiah, Herzog added, “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet.”
“Your appointment as ambassador,” Herzog continued, “is a powerful expression of President Trump’s affection, friendship, and unwavering support for the State of Israel.”
Herzog also spoke of the ongoing hostage crisis: “I know, Mike, that you share in our heartbreak and our unwavering resolve to bring every hostage home — immediately, every single one of them.”
Turning to the broader regional threat posed by Iran, Herzog warned of the extremist vision propagated by the regime in Tehran: “When a radical regime declares ‘Death to Israel’ and ‘Death to America,’ we must take that threat seriously.”
Herzog concluded with a blessing and a call to action: “I look forward to close personal cooperation with you, as we elevate the U.S.-Israel alliance to even greater heights. May God bless you, may God bless America, and may God bless Israel. Welcome — and Shalom.”
