- Title: MIDEAST-IRAN/HUCKABEE US Republican candidate Huckabee starts Mideast tour
- Date: 18th August 2015
- Summary: SHILO, WEST BANK (AUGUST 18, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** UNITED STATES REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, MIKE HUCKABEE, TALKING TO REPORTER VARIOUS OF HUCKABEE GREETING RESIDENTS OF SHILO SETTLEMENT AT THE WEST BANK REPORTERS DURING NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTER ASKING: (English) "Governor Huckabee you are running for the presidency of the United States.. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED STATES REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, MIKE HUCKABEE, SAYING: "Thanks for reminding me I've got a lot to do about that" REPORTER ASKING: (English) "What are your plans for the so called Territories?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED STATES REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, MIKE HUCKABEE, SAYING: "Yaacov (Reporter's name) I recognise Judea and Samaria as part of Israel. And I believe that it's most important that we realise that there are more Jews living in Judea and Samaria than most people ever realise and that those numbers are significant. It's an important part of the security of Israel, and so I am not in the least concerned about coming to any part of Judea and Samaria." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE TAKING PICTURES DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED STATES REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, MIKE HUCKABEE, SAYING: "It was the Iranians who invoked the imagery and the very word Holocaust. They have said that they have developed missiles that will deliver Israel to the Holocaust. Those are their words. Israeli officials regularly remind the people of Israel and the people of the world that the Iranians' intent is to wipe Israel off the face of the map. And as an American I'm concerned that the second thing that the Iranians threatened, and have for 36 years, is that they will bring death to America, a chant that they made even as they were negotiating." CAMERAMAN DURING NEWS CONFERENCE HUCKABEE SHAKING HANDS WITH A MAN FROM THE AUDIENCE
- Embargoed: 2nd September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: West bank
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVABI0IK52B16IGQBRTWKXIB7TIH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: United States Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee arrived in the West Bank on Tuesday (August 18) at the start of his visit to the Middle East.
Huckabee, one of more than a dozen candidates vying for the Republican presidential nomination, started his tour at the West Bank settlement of Shilo and showed his support to Israel.
"I recognise Judea and Samaria as part of Israel. And I believe that it's most important that we realise that there are more Jews living in Judea and Samaria than most people ever realise and that those numbers are significant. It's an important part of the security of Israel, and so I am not in the least concerned about coming to any part of Judea and Samaria," Huckabee said.
The former Arkansas governor drew criticism last month for comments in which he denounced the Iranian nuclear deal with world powers by saying Obama was marching Israelis "to the door of the oven," a reference to the Nazi gas chambers that killed millions of Jews in the Holocaust.
"It was the Iranians who invoked the imagery and very word Holocaust. They have said that they have developed missiles that will deliver Israel to the Holocaust. Those are their words. Israeli officials regularly remind the people of Israel and the people of the world that the Iranians' intent is to wipe Israel off the face of the map. And as an American I'm concerned that the second thing that the Iranians threatened, and have for 36 years, is that they will bring death to America, a chant that they made even as they were negotiating," Huckabee said when asked if he regrets his comments.
Israel has called the agreement a threat to its survival and has urged U.S. lawmakers to reject the deal, saying it would give Iran a "sure path" to nuclear weapons.
Huckabee, one of 16 candidates vying for the Republican presidential nomination, made the comments in an interview with a conservative website on July 26.
He has been a regular visitor to Israel, where he has been embraced by right-wing politicians as one their country's staunchest supporters. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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