In a powerful display of solidarity and spiritual significance, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee inaugurated his official duties in Jerusalem on Sunday with a deeply symbolic act—affixing a mezuzah to the entrance of his office. Far from a mere ceremonial gesture, the moment reflected a profound alignment with Israel’s heritage and the biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria.
The mezuzah—handcrafted by a Jewish artist in the Samarian town of Itamar—was embedded with stones from Mount Ebal, the storied site of Joshua’s Altar. It was presented as a personal gift from Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council and a longstanding friend of the ambassador.
“It is an honor for me to receive such a beautiful gift from Samaria,” Huckabee declared in a video released by Arutz 7. “This mezuzah is more than tradition. It’s a sacred reminder that every time I step into this office, there are millions of people who pray for the peace of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and all of Israel. This is a house guided by faith and anchored in friendship.”
In a first-of-its-kind diplomatic event at the US Embassy in Israel, @USAmbIsrael @GovMikeHuckabee hosted Samaria Governor Yossi Dagan in his office in Jerusalem and fixed a mezuzah made of stones from Mt. Ebal at the entrance to the office. pic.twitter.com/5kFGsMnLsb
— Israel National News - Arutz Sheva (@ArutzSheva_En) May 4, 2025
Dagan, visibly moved, responded with equal warmth and gravity. “Ambassador Huckabee, your presence here, and your unwavering support, is a beacon of hope—not just for Samaria, but for all Jews across the globe. Your heart beats with ours. You are a true partner, and we thank you for standing with Israel—unapologetically, boldly, and from the soul.”
The encounter, while steeped in Jewish tradition, also sent a clear political signal: Huckabee, known for his evangelical Zionism and longstanding defense of Israel’s rights in Judea and Samaria, intends to bring moral clarity to his diplomatic mission.
But despite the hopeful signs for deepening U.S.-Israel ties, Huckabee was measured when asked about the Trump administration’s position on formally recognizing Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.
Thank you Yossi Dagan!
— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) May 5, 2025
Mezuzah crafted from Biblical Mount Ebal stone affixed at US ambassador's office https://t.co/8JPKpshp2o
Speaking at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem on April 28, Huckabee told reporters, “Those are important questions. But for President Trump, nothing takes precedence over bringing the hostages home—especially American citizens held in Gaza. That’s our immediate, unwavering focus.”
He added that while the recognition of sovereignty is "an issue of historic justice and strategic significance," it must wait until more urgent matters are addressed. “We must first ensure the Iranians are stopped—dead in their tracks—from achieving nuclear capability. That threat looms over the entire region. Once those pressing challenges are resolved, we’ll turn our attention to other vital matters, including sovereignty.”
The ambassador’s comments, coupled with his symbolic act of faith and friendship, offered a compelling vision: a U.S. envoy not only committed to diplomacy but deeply rooted in Israel’s biblical legacy and unafraid to show it.
