Glenn Beck to hold Jerusalem rally

Just when you thought Mike Huckabee’s departure meant the world was safe from having an advocate of ethnic cleansing in the 2012 U.S. presidential race, soon-to-depart Fox News host Glenn Beck seems to be stepping up to the task of making it as embarrassing as possible to be an American supporter of Israel: Conservative US ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

Just when you thought Mike Huckabee's departure meant the world was safe from having an advocate of ethnic cleansing in the 2012 U.S. presidential race, soon-to-depart Fox News host Glenn Beck seems to be stepping up to the task of making it as embarrassing as possible to be an American supporter of Israel:

Just when you thought Mike Huckabee’s departure meant the world was safe from having an advocate of ethnic cleansing in the 2012 U.S. presidential race, soon-to-depart Fox News host Glenn Beck seems to be stepping up to the task of making it as embarrassing as possible to be an American supporter of Israel:

Conservative US media figure Glenn Beck will hold a rally to "restore courage" in Jerusalem this August, he announced on his radio show Monday.

Beck said the aim of the rally is to "stand together with Israel" and "to show the world what living a life of faith and honor really means," according to a statement on his website.

The rally is slated to be held one year after his "rally to restore honor" in Washington last August.

Beck visited Israel last week where he broadcast a special edition of his radio show. Obviously, he can hold rallies wherever he wants, but it’s troubling to hear Likud MK Danny Dannon describe this gold-shilling huckster as a "a true friend of Israel who is willing to speak out when so many are often silent." Having support for Israel, as a U.S. political issue, associated with Beck’s brand, can only be a bad thing for the future of the relationship.

For a taste of Beck’s views on Middle East politics, check out this now classic rant from January drawing a line from Bernadine Dohrn and the Weathermen to the Egyptian and Tunisian uprisings to a "Mediterranean on fire.":

 

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

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