Jerusalem Ceremony Honors Huckabee Amid Calls from Hostage Families

In a moving ceremony at the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee was honored Tuesday night with the prestigious Friends of Zion Award. The event, hosted by museum founder Mike Evans, brought together prominent Israeli and American dignitaries, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Ted Cruz, in a powerful display of faith, solidarity, and urgent calls for action.

Accepting the award, Huckabee gave an impassioned speech rooted in faith and unwavering support for the Jewish people. “Without the Jewish people, I don’t have a faith. I have nothing,” he said. “No greater honor could be bestowed upon me than to be called a friend of the Jewish people.” He denounced antisemitism as “a hatred toward God” and credited the Jewish people for bringing divine light and moral law into the world.

The event took on heightened emotion as Omer Shem Tov, recently freed from Hamas captivity after 505 harrowing days in Gaza, made his first major public appearance. “I woke up every day and thanked God that I had air in my lungs, food on my plate, and that my family was safe,” he shared. Despite his suffering, Shem Tov spoke with grace, performing Kiddush alone every Friday night while in captivity. He thanked Huckabee and former President Donald Trump, saying, “I am here today because of you.”

His mother, Shelly Shem Tov, offered a heart-wrenching appeal: “You and President Trump have the power to give all the hostage families the miracle we received.” Her words underscored the unbearable burden still carried by families waiting for the return of their loved ones.

Huckabee, visibly moved, recounted his earlier meeting with Omer. “Through all the horrid things you've been through, you were able to smile. That's God's gift,” he said. In a deeply personal moment, he also described his wife Janet’s recent hike up the Snake Path at Masada, where she and U.S. embassy staff paused at intervals to pray over pictures and biographies of hostages.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen praised Huckabee’s steadfast commitment and recalled the historic decisions made by the Trump administration. “President Trump did a great deal for the State of Israel,” he said, citing the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and the signing of the Abraham Accords. “And now, he’s sent us Mike a close friend of Israel as ambassador.”

As the evening concluded, the tone was one of reverence, hope, and urgency. The powerful testimonies of freed captives, the spiritual conviction of Ambassador Huckabee, and the unyielding resolve of Israeli officials served as a reminder: the fight to bring every hostage home is far from over.

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