�By: Shimmy Blum�

It is difficult to get even a small handful of Knesset members to attend an event, yet a diverse�dozen of them gathered Tuesday morning in the Knesset�s Jerusalem Hall for a special two hour-�plus symposium on U.S.-Israel�economic and diplomatic�relations. The �U.S.-Israel Business�Alliance� mission was arranged by the U.S. based Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, and�headlined by its special guest, former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike�Huckabee.

The MKs were seated alongside members of the Jewish Chamber�s Executive Public Policy�Committee � Dr. Joseph�Frager, Dr. Paul Brody,�Odeleya�Jacobs and�Duvi�Honig�� as dozens of�other delegation members and media personnel filled the hall.

You can hear a pin drop in the room throughout the symposium. The sensitivity of the times was�felt in the air. We were mere days after the UN Security Council passed�� with the aid of U.S.�abstention -Resolution 2334, which delegitimized Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem, Judea and�Samaria, and Secretary of State John Kerry delivered a speech denying Israel�s ability to remain�a democratic Jewish state. At the same time, we are just over two weeks away from when�Donald Trump will be inaugurated as president of the U.S., which is expected to significantly�affect U.S. policy towards Israel.

Crucial Support at a Crucial Time�

Speaker after speaker thanked Governor Huckabee and the entire Jewish Chamber delegation for�displaying unapologetic U.S. support for Israel at this crucial juncture.�The governor has visited�Israel more times than he can remember since age 17, and has been a strong pro-Israel voice�during his political career and the many media appearances he makes to this day. The governor�and his wife Janet previously visited the Jewish State in 2014, as rockets were raining down from�Gaza. The nickname �Huckabee the�Maccabbee� was an instant favorite in the room. The fact�that Governor Huckabee has a particularly close relationship with incoming President Trump�was particularly heartening.

Likud MK Miki Zohar, who chaired the conference, highlighted the UN resolution�s boost to the�BDS movement and danger to the Israeli economy, and thanked the Jewish Chamber for�harnessing its clout to fight BDS and promote stronger U.S.-Israel economic ties. Zohar praised�President Elect Trump�s response to the recent anti-Israel moves by the UN and his predecessor,�remarking, �I am filled with optimism for January 20 th ,� the date Mr. Trump will take over the�Oval Office.

Dr.�Frager�noted that this is the fifth time that he has accompanied Governor Huckabee on a trip�to Israel, but the first time under the Jewish Chamber�s umbrella. The current thirty person-�strong delegation and high profile schedule of events made a strong mark. �Let�s hope this sets�the tone for the next eight years under President Trump,� said Dr.�Frager.

Mr.�Honig�noted the Jewish Chamber�s particular motivation to utilize its global network of�Jewish community businesses and business leaders to fight BDS and other efforts to harm the�Israeli economy. �An eye for an eye,� he stated with visible passion. �We�ll use our strength to�fight you all.� Mr.�Honigadded the importance for Israel and the Jewish people to recognize and�respect the biblical traditions and laws, in order to be able to expect the world to respect our�historical biblical connection to the land.�He also highlighted the strong personal connection that�the Jewish Chamber maintains with top aides to President Elect Trump, particularly�Jason�Dov�Greenblatt Esq., and Israel Ambassador designate David Friedman.

Dr. Brody kept his remarks short, heralding Governor Huckabee�s longstanding friendship with�Israel, and concluded by raising the�Israeli�flag and proclaiming �Am�Yisrael�Chai!��The last member of the Jewish Chamber�s Executive Public Policy Committee to speak�was�Odeleya�Jacobs. She noted the months of work that were invested to arrange this event and�the importance of the mission.��The Jewish people are indigenous to this land,� she exclaimed.��No power can go against God.�

Aaron Klein, chief of the Jerusalem bureau of Breitbart News, sounded the alarm on the BDS�movement, which the UN resolution �put on steroids,� and urged the MKs to ensure that the�Israeli government makes a full throated effort to combat the movement and its key backers. He�urged them to follow the direct, combative model that led to the stunning political success of�Donald Trump. �Troll the world with the truth,� Mr. Klein advised.

Efrat�Mayor�Oded�Ravivi�praised Governor Huckabee�s understanding of the threat of the BDS�movement and how to counter with an effective pro-Israel message to the media and the�world.�He then presented the governor with a framed map of Israel, remarking, �We trust you because�you know what this is about.�

The MKs at the symposium each voiced their own thoughts during brief addresses. The most�commonly touched upon themes were gratitude towards Governor Huckabee and the Jewish�Chamber for their support; outrage at the UN and the Obama administration; optimism of better�days ahead under the Trump administration; the importance of biblical tradition and history to�the Jewish connection to all of Israel; and opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state.

The Huckabee Finale�

During her remarks, Likud MK�Sharren�Haskel�pointed out that Governor Huckabee has more�courage voicing a staunch pro-Israel position than even many Israelis.�The audience was clearly�moved at the governor�s unflinching words of support during his address, which concluded the�symposium.

Repeating the mantra that �history is to a nation what memory is to an individual,� Governor�Huckabee extolled the people of Israel to appreciate the strong historical Jewish connection to�the land, and help the world at large appreciate it too. He described his initial reaction to�Secretary Kerry�s speech as one of disbelief. �It only makes any sense if you take faith and�religion out,� he said.

Though the only non-Jew in the room, Governor Huckabee harped on his strong religious faith�and how it shapes his view of Israel. �When I first came here, Israel was struggling to live�of�kibbutzin, but is now one of the most entrepreneurial nations in the history of mankind; and�won many wars it shouldn�t have (by conventional measure),� the governor explained. �There is�no explanation for this other than God�s unique personal involvement.�

The governor reiterated his belief that Israel has rightful sovereignty over Judea and Samaria,�and warned that abandoning portions of land won�t satiate Israel haters. �The world doesn�t hate�you because of where you are, but because of who you are and whose you are,� he exclaimed. �As a close friend and early supporter of President Elect Trump, Governor Huckabee boosted the�already strong sense in the room that the next president will be nothing like his predecessor�regarding Israel. He concluded with a powerful message to the world: �Say what you want about�Israel, but I wouldn�t bet against her!�