Ambassador Huckabee urges international mayors to strengthen partnerships with Israel

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee spoke on Sunday evening at an event in Jerusalem commemorating the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, attended by mayors and civic leaders from dozens of cities around the world. The event, which opened with a candle-lighting ceremony, was part of the 35th International Mayors Conference, organized by the American Jewish Congress (AJC).

“There are so many crazy things being said about Israel around the world that simply aren’t true,” Huckabee said during his speech. “Israel needs more people to come here, see the reality with their own eyes, and then go home and simply tell people what they saw.”

He added, “Mayors and governors have one thing in common: we actually get things done. You can wake up in the morning with an idea and have it implemented by the end of the day.”

“Instead of the world simply saying thank you to Israel for the technologies and innovations it provides, there are countries seeking to boycott and sanction it,” he said. “That’s crazy. What we should have here is a genuine partnership.”

AJC President Daniel Rosen said, “Over the coming days, mayors from around the world will experience innovation born out of necessity. This visit is an opportunity to build trust and personal relationships that will endure long after it ends. Our goal is for these mayors to return home with a deeper connection to Israel and a genuine interest in pursuing joint initiatives, from adopting technologies that improve residents’ lives to developing economic and educational partnerships.”

The International Mayors Conference brings together mayors and senior municipal leaders from around the world to explore practical solutions to the challenges of governing modern cities, with sessions covering transportation, public safety, healthcare, infrastructure, cybersecurity and city governance. The conference offers participants an opportunity to learn from Israel’s decades of experience in urban innovation and problem-solving with visits to sites, working sessions and direct meetings with Israeli innovators and officials.