Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee. Photo: Gage Skidmore.

JNS.org – Thousands of people demonstrated in support of Israel in front of Capitol Hill on Sunday in an event initiated by former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee.

Huckabee expressed his disappointment over the White House’s stance during Israel’s Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, saying the Obama administration did not give the Jewish state sufficient backing during the campaign against Hamas terrorism. Other speakers at the rally included U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), Zionist Organization of America National President Morton A. Klein, and political commentator Bill Kristol.

“A clear call needs to go out from here that hasn’t been heard from the [Obama administration], that Israel has the right and the moral obligation to protect the security of its citizens against radical Islamic terrorism,” Huckabee told the audience, according to Israel Hayom.

Referring to recent U.S. criticism of Israeli construction in Jerusalem, Huckabee said, “We waste more time telling Israel not to build in the land that was given to Abraham than we do telling the Iranians to stop building bombs intended for [attacking] the United States.”