Across the Middle East, Western enemies are finding out the consequences of terrorism.

In Gaza, fed up with Hamas’s consistent bad faith negotiations, Jerusalem has widened its renewed offensive. In addition to targeting active combatant terrorists and their leaders, the IDF has also redeployed an armored division from its northern border (where the enemy has been crippled but not obliterated) to the Gaza border.

Meanwhile, here in Washington Gov. Mike Huckabee was grilled by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as he seeks to become America’s next emissary in Jerusalem; in Turkey the people have been taking to the streets in reaction to the latest tyrannical act by the authoritarian President Recep Tayyip Erdogan; and the Houthis are learning the hard way that – despite the actions of the previous administration – America is not, in fact, a paper tiger.

Send Mr. Huckabee to Jerusalem 

Choosing Gov. Mike Huckabee to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel is among President Trump’s best nomination decisions. 

Despite what were at times aggressive questions from certain leftwing senators concerning Gov. Huckabee’s Christian Zionism, the Governor remained true to himself and his faith, and conducted himself very well during his hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday.

We welcomed Gov. Huckabee’s nomination and look forward to the day he presents his credentials to the Prime Minister in Israel. However, before that happens, the Senate must confirm Gov. Huckabee for the post, and in today’s day and age, the Governor being the most qualified for the position will not stop efforts to delay his nomination.

Please join with thousands of CUFI Members by clicking here to ensure your Senators know that you support President Trump’s choice to serve as America’s voice in Jerusalem.

As CUFI founder and Chairman Pastor John Hagee recently noted:

I have known Gov. Huckabee for decades. In stark contrast to the self-appointed foreign policy elite, Gov. Huckabee has a deep and nuanced understanding of the Middle East – both its modern history and its Biblical foundations. Americans will be well represented in Jerusalem by Gov. Huckabee, where he will be an important part of implementing the robust, pro-Israel agenda upon which the Trump administration began in its first administration and will take to new heights in its second.

Please Join Pastor Hagee in Asking the Senate to Support Gov. Huckabee’s nomination

Send Mr. Erdogan to Jail

“Huge” and nightly pro-democracy protests have been taking place for nearly a week across Turkey. The people are rising up in response to years of oppression under the tyrannical leadership of President Erdogan.

These latest protests were sparked by Erdogan’s arrest of the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, in what everyone with eyes to see and ears to hear knows are trumped up “corruption” charges.

Imamoglu is, for the moment, the most likely individual to be able to successfully oppose Erdogan, and (if elections were free and fair) defeat the longtime Turkish ruler. Erdogan obviously knows this and has spent several months arresting at least 47 individuals he has deemed political threats.

Since the rise of the Islamist Erdogan, the United States, under both parties, has placated Turkey and looked the other way at human rights abuses, support for terrorism, territorial aggression against US allies, and the floating of US sanctions against both Iran and Russia. However, at times, such as when Erdogan’s regime was booted from the U.S. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program for its purchase of a Russian missile defense system contrary to US sanction laws,  Washington has acted a bit more appropriately with this frenemy existing on Europe’s doorstep.

Given their duplicitous relationship with Moscow as well as their hosting, financing and open support for Hamas terrorists (which would easily land them on the State Sponsor of Terrorism list if the U.S. government was calling balls and strikes), we have long warned that America’s dalliance with Turkey’s strongman dictator will end badly for the U.S., our allies and the Turkish people. But it’s not too late to land this plane. First, we should not reverse the F-35 ban, nor should we reward Erdogan in any way as long he continues to support Hamas and repress his own people. Washington should support those who seek a free Turkey, as it’s both the right thing to do and in the American national security interest.

Sending Iran and the Houthis Exactly What They Deserve

Speaking of things that are good for the U.S. and the world at large, the United States attacked more than a half-dozen Houthi targets in recent days in response to the Houthis having restarted their targeting of shipping lanes in the Red Sea and ballistic missile attacks against Israel.

As a result of the Houthi attacks, shipping companies have had to adjust course (literally), which will add costs to everyone purchasing associated goods.

The U.S. strikes were considerable, and the overall American posture has had an impact, though the matter is not yet resolved. As such, the U.S. has moved a carrier group into the Red Sea and has ratcheted up pressure on Iran – which is the force behind the Houthis, Hamas and Hezbollah.

Specifically, concerning Iran’s nuclear program, U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen Waltz said on Sunday, “This isn't some kind of, you know, kind of tit-for-tat that we had under the Obama administration or Biden… This is the full program. Give it up or there will be consequences."

Such is the right course, but not only regarding Iran. All the adversaries discussed in today’s Action Update require strong and unequivocal confrontation when they are behaving obstinately, and that is exactly what Israel, the U.S., and the people on the streets of Istanbul, are doing.

Sincerely,

The CUFI Action Fund Team