Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on tour in Jerusalem's Old City (WND photo)

JERUSALEM – The division of Jerusalem is "unimaginable" while a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the "wrong answer," former Arkansas governor and vice-presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee told WND.

"Israel is surrounded by nations in various states of war with the Jewish state. Because of the limited footprint of real estate they have, it's not practical for Israel to give up any land. The two-state solution is no solution, but will cause only problems," said Huckabee, who is completing a two-day fact-finding tour in Israel.

The former Republican presidential candidate said he cannot understand how Jerusalem could be divided.

"It's unimaginable. The city must remain under Jewish sovereignty," he said yesterday.

Huckabee suggested creating a Palestinian state elsewhere in the Middle East:

"There is only one place on earth where the Jewish people could have a homeland that is consistent with their roots, whereas the Palestinians can create their homeland in many other places in the Middle East, outside Israel," he said.

Huckabee told WND that Israel should "have the right" to do "whatever is necessary" to counter Iran's nuclear program.

(Story continues below)

He said he believes Republican Sen. John McCain is the presidential candidate who best understands Israel's security needs.

"He knows that Israel must protect itself and he understands the scope of the Iranian nuclear threat," Huckabee said.

Huckabee told WND yesterday he has had no communication with McCain over the possibility of becoming the presumptive Republican nominee's running mate and does not consider himself a candidate.

The former governor blasted Democratic Sen. Barack Obama for his "policy of dialogue" in his approach to Iran and other world threats.

"I think discussions are fine if you're dealing with people you can trust," Huckabee said. "I am not sure what is accomplished if the idea is to just make nice with nothing to back it up."

On his two-day mission here, Huckabee visited the various quarters of Jerusalem's Old City, the Western Wall and underlying tunnels, and the rocket-battered town of Sderot.

He also visited Arab-majority neighborhoods of eastern Jerusalem and expressed strong support for moving Jews into the areas. Much of the Arab communities were built illegally upon Jewish-owned land.

The Israeli government over the years has done little to stop rampant illegal Arab construction in northern and eastern neighborhoods of Jerusalem. Hundreds of acres of the land in question are legally owned by the Jewish National Fund, or JNF, which purchases property in Israel for the stated purpose of Jewish settlement.

The demographics in eastern Jerusalem have major political implications, since it involves areas widely expected to be handed over to the Palestinian Authority as a result of Israeli-PA negotiations aimed at forming a Palestinian state.

Huckabee's tour was sponsored by the Jerusalem Reclamation Project or American Friends of Ateret Kohanim, which promotes the Jewish presence in Jerusalem, as well as by private U.S. Jewish donors.

 

---

To interview Aaron Klein, contact M. Sliwa Public Relations by e-mail, or call 973-272-2861 or 212-202-4453.

---

Related offers:

Get the book that launched the "None of the Above" political movement – personally signed by the author. It comes with a free "None of the Above" magnetized bumper sticker.

Help spread the word about the "None of the Above" campaign with extra copies of the magnetized bumper sticker.

Proudly display the hottest campaign button in the nation – "None of the Above." Buy them in bulk at phenomenal prices.

Previous stories:

What Huckabee says about his chances

IRS clears pastor who backed Huckabee

Huckabee endorses Colorado 'personhood' plan<

Huckabee banks on Texas, Norris

Dobson won't vote if McCain wins nomination

Boycott Chuck Norris, says Thompson aide

Chuck Norris: McCain just too old to be prez

Chuck's 'Huckaboom' pays off

Huck takes heat for having CFR adviser

CFR touts Huck's sympathy for illegals

Huckabee to Limbaugh: I'm a true conservative

Romney ad has Chuck Norris kicking Huckabee

How WND's Chuck Norris kicked off Huckaboom

Rasmussen: 'The Huckaboom may have crested'

Gilchrist endorsement of Huckabee splits movement

Minuteman reconsiders Huckabee endorsement

Huckabee endorsement 'only if' all illegals out

Minuteman's Huckabee endorsement draws fire

Huck, Mitt, Rudy, McCain blame you for global warming

Chuck Norris roundhouses GOP presidential campaign

Norris endorses, surge follows

Poll: Huckabee in GOP top tier

1 presidential candidate gets secret weapon - Chuck Norris

Huckabee warns fight with terror won't end in draw

Values Voter debate now online

Huckabee wins Republican poll