EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stressed the importance of acknowledging the Jewish people’s historic connection to the Land of Israel, describing global efforts to deny this link as «absurd.»

«First of all, archeology is a daily reminder of the connection between this land and the Jewish people going all the way back to 3,500 to 3,800 years, whether it’s Shilo, whether it’s Jerusalem,» Huckabee told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview in Jerusalem on Thursday.

His comments came as Jews worldwide celebrate Shavuot, the biblical holiday commemorating God’s giving of the Torah to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai.

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Huckabee pointed to archaeological evidence as strong support for the biblical account. «The excavations at the City of David alone are a validation of the biblical record of what really did happen here. Sometimes people on the far-left love to say ‘follow the science, follow the science,’ and I would say to them, as it relates to the land and the connections to the Jewish people, follow the science of archaeology.»

The remarks come amid an ongoing diplomatic war by the Palestinian Authority — which was granted non-member observer state status at the United Nations in 2012 — to revise historical narratives in international forums where anti-Israel majorities are common.

For example, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2016 registered the Cave of the Patriarchs — the burial site of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives Sarah, Rebecca and Leah, located in Hebron—under the name of the «State of Palestine» on its «List of World Heritage in Danger.»

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The Cave of the Patriarchs, also known as the Cave of Machpelah. The site is the burial place of Patriarchs and Matriarchs of the Jewish people, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Leah. (Photo by Yishai Gilad/TPS)

In a separate move, the U.N. General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution in 2021 referring to the Temple Mount — Judaism’s holiest site, located in Jerusalem but beyond the 1967 borders — solely by its Islamic name, «Haram al-Sharif.»

«For 20 years, I have been pushing back against an effort from the PA, Hamas, European-funded anti-Israel NGOs, and the U.N. to try and prevent excavations from coming to life,» said Doron Spielman, author of the new book «When the Stones Speak: The Remarkable Discovery of the City of David and What Israel’s Enemies Don’t Want You to Know,» a book that shows the historical and indigenous connection to the Holy Land of the Jews.

«There are thousands of discoveries that prove the connection of the Jewish people to the biblical heartland, but in particular the clay seal impressions of Yehuchal—the son of Shelemiah—and Gedaliah—the son of Pashur—that were found at the site believed to be King David’s palace,» explained Spielman. «They are directly quoted in the Bible as having attempted to kill the prophet Jeremiah.»

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee places a note in the Western Wall as Holy Week and Passover come to a close. (@USAmbIsrael/X)

In 2008, Israeli archaeologist Eilat Mazar revealed the discovery of a clay seal impression, or bulla, bearing the name Gedaliah, son of Pashhur. The artifact was unearthed during a dig in the City of David, located just south of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The bulla was found close to where, in 2005, a similar seal inscribed with the name Yehuchal had been discovered.

Both individuals are known from the bible as officials who served under King Zedekiah, the final monarch of the Kingdom of Judah before the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple in 587 B.C.

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«The bullas can be seen, they are on display at the Israel Museum and in traveling exhibitions. They have gone from one side of the world to the other because the Palestinians created a narrative attempting to erase any connection between Jews, and by extension Christians, to the Land of Israel,» continued Spielman.

Huckabee emphasized that archaeological discoveries continue to affirm the scriptural narrative connecting the Jewish people to the land.

A picture taken on October 12, 2017 shows the logo of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization headquarters in Paris. (JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP via Getty Images)

«Every time some new discovery is unearthed it validates the biblical record, so the proof is pretty strong that that connection is not something that goes back to 1948 or 1917 the Balfour Declaration – it goes all the way back to the time of Abraham. That’s pretty far back,» he said.

For his part, Spielman voiced concern that the message isn’t resonating with the mainstream, particularly among younger generations.

«On campuses in the U.S., people are chanting ‘From the River to the Sea,’ and calling the Jews colonizers,» he said, in reference to the mantra calling for the «liberation» of «Palestine» through the elimination of Israel.

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«This expression comes from people taught to believe that the Jews have no connection to the Land of Israel, and I’m fearful because it leads to violence. When people come to erase your history, they are on their way to trying to erase you as a nation.

«We have seen it before and if we do not stop the trend, it will happen again,» he added.

Dónde están buscando a Madeleine McCann

Dos edificios abandonados, en la mira y una carpa azul

La policía montó una carpa azul en el lugar. Foto: Reuters

La policía portuguesa llega al lugar. Foto: AP

Madeleine McCann y Christian Brueckner.

La noche de la desaparición de Madeleine McCann

Los padres de Madeleine conmemoraron el 18.º aniversario de su desaparición. Foto: AP

Progressive Democrats spoke out against antisemitism following a terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, in which an Egyptian national set peaceful protesters on fire at a demonstration to bring Israeli hostages home. 

«I am horrified by last night’s horrific attack in Boulder,» progressive Democrat and potential 2028 presidential candidate,Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said on X. «My heart is with the victims and our Jewish communities across the country. Antisemitism is on the rise here at home, and we have a moral responsibility to confront and stop it everywhere it exists.»

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who was voted off the House Foreign Affairs Committee in 2023 and was hit with a censure resolution in 2024 for alleged antisemitism, condemned the violence on Monday. 

«I’m holding the victims and families in Boulder, Colorado in my heart,» Omar said in a social media post. «Violence against anyone is never acceptable. We must reject hatred and harm in all its forms.»

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While Omar’s censure resolution never passed, the House did vote to censure fellow «Squad» member Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., in 2023 for alleged anti-Israel comments. 

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«The violent attack in Boulder is horrific. My heart goes out to all of the victims and their families. Violence has no place in our communities,» Tlaib said on X.

Two progressive Democrats, who joined Congress in 2022, also slammed the «antisemitic attack» in social media statements. 

«I am horrified by the antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado,» Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, who was elected in 2022, said on social media. «My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and Jewish communities across the country.

Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, condemned the antisemitic attack.  (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

«Yesterday’s antisemitic attack against those in Boulder, CO calling for the safe return of hostages is deplorable and heartbreaking,» Rep. Delia C. Ramirez, D-Ill., said on X, condemning both violence against Gaza and violence in our local U.S. communities. 

«Neither bombing in Gaza nor violence perpetrated in our communities will bring us closer to peace. Only by recognizing our interconnected safety and shared humanity can we carve a path forward. As we hold those affected by the attack close, our nation’s leaders must unite to reject all forms of hate and violence that continue to make us all less safe, and to honor the dignity of every human life,» she added. 

Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., the first Gen-Z congressman, admitted he should have supported a resolution in 2023 condemning antisemitism on college campuses. He joined the progressive Democrats on Monday who condemned the attack. 

«I’m horrified to hear about the antisemitic attack in Boulder, just weeks after the shooting of two Israeli embassy officials in DC. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. There is no place for this hatred and violence — and we must keep working to end it. Political and bigoted violence in our country must be denounced swiftly and strongly by all,» he said. 

Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

One of the original «Squad» members who was elected in 2018, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., added on X on Monday afternoon, «The antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado is horrifying and unacceptable. Violence against innocent people is never the answer. It will never bring justice for anyone, and we must do everything to root it out. I pray for the victims, their loved ones, and everyone impacted.»

The Massachusetts Democrat also spoke out against President Donald Trump on Monday. 

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«Donald Trump wants to sow fear & chaos in our communities so we feel alone & defeated — but we won’t let him. Tune in as I join immigrant justice advocates, local leaders, & impacted families to tell Trump & ICE: Hands off our immigrant neighbors,» Pressley wrote on X, as she directed her followers to a livestreamed event condemning Trump’s deportation policies.

As of Monday afternoon, «Squad» member, Rep. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania did not condemn the attack on social media. Lee’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.