First-of-its-kind diplomatic event at the US Embassy in Israel: Incoming US Ambassador Mike Huckabee is known as a great supporter of Israel and has already visited Judea and Samaria many times in the past, touring Alon Moreh, Itamar, Barkan, visiting the Mishkan antiquities site in Shiloh and a new neighborhood in Efrat – and even entering with the head of the Samaria Council to pray at Joseph's Tomb.
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However, such an official event has not yet been seen in the protocol of diplomatic relations between the US and Israel.
The US Ambassador to Israel met in his office in Jerusalem with the head of the Samaria Council, Yossi Dagan – the first meeting he has held in his office with the head of an Israeli authority.
The two discussed the challenges facing Israel and the security and historical importance of Judea and Samaria. Dagan, who is a longtime friend of Huckabee, presented him with a handmade mezuzah made from stones from Mount Ebal, at the foot of which is the altar of Joshua ben Nun.
The mezuzah was sculpted by artist Asaf Kidron from the Itamar settlement.
Ambassador Huckabee did not hide his great excitement about the gesture and thanked her with warm words.
The ambassador and the head of the council together placed the mezuzah at the entrance to his official office at the US Embassy in Jerusalem. Dagan offered a blessing for the placement of the mezuzah and added the blessing "May we live.".
Ambassador Huckabee expressed his gratitude with warm words and said: "It is an honor for me to receive such a beautiful gift from Samaria. A reminder, every time I enter my office, that there are people praying for the peace of Jerusalem. And we all pray for the peace of Judea and Samaria, and for the peace of all Israel.".
The head of the Samaria Council said at the mezuzah installation: "I am very excited to install this mezuzah. We – all the citizens of Samaria, all the citizens of Israel, and all the Jews in the world – appreciate you. I want to thank you for your heart, for your partnership, and for everything you do for Israel and for the United States. And I want to bless you, may God grant you strength and success to do good for Israel and for the United States, and to strengthen the ties between our peoples. We love President Trump and the government of Israel. And we love you. May God bless you.".
Dagan and Huckabee are old friends who have collaborated over the years in strengthening American support for Judea and Samaria. As part of their collaboration, they hosted delegations of senior American officials in Samaria, the most notable visit of all being to Joseph's Tomb - where Huckabee also prayed.
In addition, Dagan met with Huckabee for an extended meeting in the United States before President Trump's inauguration.
Samaria Council Chairman Yossi Dagan has held numerous meetings in Washington with senior Trump administration officials, senators, and members of Congress, in order to strengthen support for settlement and to bring about support and reinforcement for the application of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. Dagan, together with Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, initiated the establishment of the Judea and Samaria Lobby in Congress – a lobby joined by about 20 members of Congress, and it is working to enact a law prohibiting the use of the term "West Bank" in official documents in the United States and requiring the use of the term "Judea and Samaria," and is also working to promote support for sovereignty in Congress.
As part of Dagan's marathon of meetings, he also met with his father-in-law and Donald Trump's special advisor on Middle East affairs, Masad Bolos.
At the meeting, Bolos told Degan: "It is a great pleasure and honor to meet you, and to convey through you my appreciation from my heart to the people of Samaria.".
