U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has condemned efforts to erase Jewish history in the Holy Land, calling them ‘absurd,’ and urged historical revisionists to ‘follow the science of archaeology.’ In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Huckabee highlighted archaeological evidence as a powerful affirmation of the biblical account of the Jewish people’s connection to the area.
As Jews around the world celebrated Shavuot, the biblical holiday commemorating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, Huckabee emphasized the importance of recognizing this historical link. He pointed to findings such as the City of David and ancient seals as examples that directly connect the Jewish people to the land. The remarks come at a time of growing diplomatic tensions regarding historical narratives, particularly as the Palestinian Authority and some international bodies have sought to revise or deny Israel’s historical claims to the region.
Efforts by the Palestinian Authority and its allies to reshape historical narratives have intensified, with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) registering the Cave of the Patriarchs—located in Hebron and serving as the burial site of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their wives—under the name of the ‘State of Palestine’ on its ‘List of World Heritage in Danger.’ Additionally, a U.N. General Assembly resolution in 2021 referred to the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism, as ‘Haram al-Sharif,’ a term associated with Islam.
Doron Spielman, an archaeologist and author of ‘When the Stones Speak: The Remarkable Discovery of the City of David and What Israel’s Enemies Don’t Want You to Know,’ expressed concern that the message is not resonating with younger generations. He cited the ‘From the River to the Sea’ mantra, which is often used to advocate for the ‘liberation’ of Palestine by eliminating Israel. Spielman warned that such ideologies are fueled by the erasure of Jewish history and lead to increased hostility, which he fears could result in the erasure of the Jewish nation itself.
Archaeological discoveries, such as the clay seal impressions of Yehuchal and Gedaliah found in the City of David, further reinforce the historical narrative of Jewish presence in the region. These findings, including the discovery of a seal bearing the name Gedaliah, son of Pashur, discovered by Israeli archaeologist Eilat Mazar in 2008, exemplify how such evidence challenges efforts to rewrite the past. Huckabee, along with figures like Spielman, has consistently argued that the strength of the biblical narrative is supported by archaeological discoveries, which affirm the Jewish people’s ancient and enduring connection to the land.