The new U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee clarified an unusual opinion, reflecting that of the new president, Trump. regarding the subject of army enlistment. It was presented on the Channel 14 news among other topical public issues in the course of a conversation with President of Dirshu, Rav Dovid Hofstetter. Huckabee is an evangelical Christian and an ordained Baptist minister.
Huckabee, a non-Jew, addressed the very touchy subject of the draft of yeshiva students and said, "There are many ways in which someone can serve, and not all of them are militarily-connected. There are jobs which are not at all connected to war. We dealt with this in our system as follows, and it might work for you as well."
He sharpened the connection between the Jewish people and the Jewish homeland maintaining that it is based upon Torah, and Torah alone. "As we have already said, without the Biblical foundation, there is no basis to Judaism or to the State of Israel," he stated emphatically. "Without the Torah, the State of Israel is merely another geopolitical entity. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that for 3500 years this is the land promised by G-d to the Jewish people."
He bolstered his thesis through the bond which exists between the Jewish people and the land. "There is a document which was given to Abraham and this should ultimately prevail upon the borders."
The new ambassador also related to anti-Semitism. "I sometimes attempt to understand it because there is no logic to it. The only thing I can conclude is that G-d, for reasons of His own, chose both the Jewish people and the Land. These were His decisions, not mine and anti-Semitism is merely a natural result. It is not opposition to you but to G-d, to His laws and His choice."
Huckabee added that President Trump concurs with these thoughts. "The first four years were like a natural introduction for the upcoming four years. These will be the most pro-Israel years ever."
